NCJ Number
159097
Date Published
1995
Length
55 pages
Annotation
This report presents a quantitative analysis of the economic sources of theft and property crimes, using statistics gathered from 13 political regions of Chile in 1982 and 1992.
Abstract
Unemployment is cited as a major source of the increase in crime; a 1-percent increase in unemployment resulted in 3- to 6- percent increases in theft in 1992 in Chile. A mathematical formula is derived to assess the probabilities of the average citizen's choice to be occupied in legal, illegal, or recreational activities. Using the formula and an econometric analysis, it is shown how a 1-percent decrease in unemployment would result in a 2- to 4-percent decrease in crime. Results confirm that use of the consumer theory as related to employment may predict citizen criminal tendencies; thieves respond to the same economic indicators as legally employed citizens. 12 references