Burglary and income inequality

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Chiu, WH; Madden, P
• 署名单位: University of Manchester
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/S0047-2727(97)00096-0
• 发表日期: 1998
• 页码: 123-141
• 关键词: crime; income inequality; Lorenz curve; relative differential inequality

摘要

In a model where risk-neutral agents have differing (legal) incomes which may be supplemented by burglary, we study the effects of income distribution on the level of burglary. Assuming that a detected burglar is incarcerated for a fixed term, and assuming that burglars choose target houses using the signal of house quality, we show how increases in income inequality may increase the level of crime. In particular, increases in 'relative differential' inequality, unambiguously increase burglary crime. Corollaries are that a more regressive income tax increases the level of crime, and that richer neighborhoods may have lower crime rates. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.