The development of digital finance and the crime rate of theft

Yuelin Yang

Finance Research Letters, 2025, vol. 71, issue C

Abstract: This study explores the impact of China's digital finance development on theft and crime rates, and analyzes the mediating role of unemployment rate in this relationship. Based on panel data from 285 prefecture level cities and 4 municipalities directly under the central government in China from 2015 to 2022, empirical results show that the development of digital finance significantly reduces theft and crime rates, and this effect is partially achieved by reducing unemployment rates. The study also found that in regions with higher levels of economic development, digital finance has a more significant inhibitory effect on theft crimes.

Keywords: Digital financial development; Unemployment; Theft crime (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:finlet:v:71:y:2025:i:c:s154461232401451x

DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106422

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