The Role of Public Security Reforms on Violent Crime Dynamics

Danilo Souza () and Mateus Maciel

No 2024_19, Working Papers, Department of Economics from University of São Paulo (FEA-USP)

Abstract: In the context of increasing violence, public security reforms are commonly advocated as a solution to the problem despite the lack of empirical evidence. We address this question by evaluating the effect of the Pacto pela Vida program, a comprehensive reform on the public security of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. We document a reduction of 16 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants following the program implementation. We show that a reduction in crimes occurring on the streets and associated with young males and firearm availability are likely to have contributed to the program’s effect.

Keywords: crime; reform; policy evaluation; Brazil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H76 K42 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-06-21
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-law and nep-ure
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Related works:
Journal Article: The role of public security reforms on violent crime dynamics (2024)
Working Paper: The Role of Public Security Reforms on Violent Crime Dynamics (2024)
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