Examining the Generality of the Unemployment-Crime Association

• NCJ Number: 245314
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 51 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2013 Pages: 561-594
• Author(s): Mikko Aaltonen; John M. MacDonald; Pekka Martikainen; Janne Kivivuori
• Date Published: August 2013
• Length: 34 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This research examines whether the relationship between unemployment and criminal offending depends on the type of crime analyzed.

Abstract

This article examines whether the relationship between unemployment and criminal offending depends on the type of crime analyzed. The authors relied on fixed-effects regression models to assess the association between changes in unemployment status and changes in violent crime, property crime, and driving under the influence (DUI) over a 6-year period. The authors also examined whether the type of unemployment benefit received moderates the link to criminal behavior. The authors found significantly positive effects of unemployment on property crime but not on other types of crime. The estimates also suggest that unemployed young males commit less crime while participating in active labor market programs when compared with periods during which they receive standard unemployment benefits. (Published Abstract)