The economic consequences of crime in Italy

TitleThe economic consequences of crime in Italy
Publication TypeWorking Paper
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsCarboni, OA, Detotto, C
Number2013_03
Keywordscrime, crowding-out effect, growth, spatial models, spatial weights
Abstract

This paper employs provincial data to study the relationship between several crime typologies, namely murder, theft, robbery and fraud, and economic output in Italy. We employ a spatial econometric approach where the spatial proximity is defined by a measure of physical distance between locations, in order to take into account possible spill-over effects. The model used here combines a spatial autoregressive model with autoregressive disturbances. In modelling the outcome for each location depends on a weighted average of the outcomes of other locations. Outcomes are determined simultaneously. The results of the spatial two stage least square estimation suggest that the homicide rate has a negative impact on Italian gross domestic product while theft, robbery and fraud do not affect economic output and that there are beneficial spill-overs from neighbouring provinces.

Citation Key4546
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