Most estimates of the cost of crime focus on victims. Yet it is plausible that an even larger cost of
crime occurs via its indirect impact on the mental wellbeing of non-victims. To test how crime affects
individuals’ mental outcomes, we exploit detailed panel data on mental wellbeing, allowing us to
observe the relationship between changes in crime in a local area and changes in the mental wellbeing
of resident non-victims in that area (controlling for changes in local economic conditions). Our results
suggest that increases in crime rates have a negative impact on the mental wellbeing of residents, with
the biggest impacts arising from violent crime. We also find that local press coverage of criminal
activity enhances the effect of crime on mental well-being.
Presented by:
Francesca Cornaglia (Queen Mary University of London)
Date & time:
June 6, 2011 3:00 pm
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