There will be blood: Crime rates in shale-rich U.S. counties

Alexander James and Brock Smith

Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 2017, vol. 84, issue C, 125-152

Abstract: Over the past decade the production of tight oil and shale gas significantly increased in the United States. This paper examines how this energy boom has affected regional crime rates throughout the country. We find positive effects on rates of various property and violent crimes in shale-rich counties. In 2013, the cost of the additional crimes in the average treatment county was roughly $2 million. These results are not easily explained by shifts in observed demographics like gender and age. There is however evidence that people with criminal records (registered sex offenders) moved disproportionally to shale-boom towns in North Dakota. We also document a rise in income inequality (a postulated determinant of criminal activity) that coincides with the timing of the energy boom. Policy makers in boom towns should anticipate these crime effects and invest in public infrastructure accordingly.

Keywords: Natural resources; Hydraulic fracturing; Crime; Resource curse (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: K42 Q3 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (54)

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Working Paper: There will be blood: Crime rates in shale-rich U.S. counties (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:84:y:2017:i:c:p:125-152

DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2016.12.004

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Journal of Environmental Economics and Management is currently edited by M.A. Cole, A. Lange, D.J. Phaneuf, D. Popp, M.J. Roberts, M.D. Smith, C. Timmins, Q. Weninger and A.J. Yates

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