Mobility-based explanation of crime incentives

Yoonseok Lee, Donggyun Shin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The canonical economic model of crime is extended to include individuals' expectation of future income mobility as an additional crime determinant. The model predicts that with all else being held constant including net gain from current criminal activity, reduced upward mobility among the poor increases crime rate whereas enhanced downward immobility among the rich decreases crime rate. These predictions are empirically supported by country-level panel data. In addition, a typical change in income distribution was implemented, such that both the poor and the rich groups contribute to crime rate with a greater contribution among the poor.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)51-67
Number of pages17
JournalKorean Economic Review
Volume28
Issue number1
StatePublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Crime
  • Immobility
  • Income distribution

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Economics, Econometrics and Finance

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