NCJ Number
149947
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 34 Issue: 3 Dated: (Summer 1994) Pages: 339-357
Date Published
1994
Length
19 pages
Annotation
The idea that crime may be related to economic activity, and particularly unemployment, has caused considerable political controversy in England and Wales, and this paper examines the association between crime and economic circumstances.
Abstract
Many different theories of criminal behavior suggest that economic hardship may cause some individuals to seek illegal means of acquiring the material goods necessary to enjoy a reasonable standard of living. Some theories predict that property crime will increase in times of economic hardship, while other theories indicate that property crime will decrease during a recession. Data on crime and the business cycle in England and Wales between 1946 and 1991 indicate that the number of recorded burglaries, robberies, and thefts rose overall but with marked fluctuations during the period. Property crime was much more closely related to the level of economic activity than had previously been thought. Appendixes contain additional information and data on crime and the business cycle in postwar England. 38 references, 4 tables, and 3 figures