The Effect of Local Area Crime on Mental Health

Christian Dustmann and Francesco Fasani

No 1428, RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series from Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM)

Abstract: This paper analyses the effect of local crime rates on residents’ mental health. Using longitudinal information on individuals’ mental well-being, we address the problem of sorting and endogenous moving behaviour. We find that crime causes considerable mental distress for residents, mainly driven by property crime. Effects are stronger for females, and mainly related to depression and anxiety. The distress caused by one standard deviation increase in local crime is 2-4 times larger than that caused by a one standard deviation decrease in local employment, and about one seventh of the short-term impact of the 7 July 2005 London Bombings.

Keywords: neighbourhoodeffects; mentalwellbeing; fearofcrime (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 K42 R23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea, nep-law and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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https://www.cream-migration.org/publ_uploads/CDP_28_14.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: The Effect of Local Area Crime on Mental Health (2016)
Working Paper: The Effect of Local Area Crime on Mental Health (2013)
Working Paper: The Effect of Local Area Crime on Mental Health (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:crm:wpaper:1428

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