Stealing to Survive? Crime and Income Shocks in 19th Century France

Vincent Bignon, Eve Caroli and Roberto Galbiati

No 8531, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Using local administrative data from 1826 to 1936, we document the evolution of crime rates in 19th century France and we estimate the impact of a negative income shock on crime. Our identification strategy exploits the phylloxera crisis. Between 1863 and 1890, phylloxera destroyed about 40% of French vineyards. We use the geographical variation in the timing of this shock to identify its impact on property and violent crime rates, as well as minor offences. Our estimates suggest that the phylloxera crisis caused a substantial increase in property crime rates and a significant decrease in violent crimes.

Keywords: income shock; crime; 19th century France; phylloxera (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: K42 N33 R11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 60 pages
Date: 2014-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his, nep-law and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Published - published as 'Stealing to Survive? Crime and Income Shocks in Nineteenth Century France in: Economic Journal, 2016, 127 (595), 19 - 49

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Related works:
Working Paper: Stealing to Survive? Crime and Income Shock in 19th Century France (2015)
Working Paper: Stealing to Survive: Crime and Income Shocks in 19th Century France (2014)
Working Paper: Stealing to Survive: Crime and Income Shocks in 19th Century France (2014)
Working Paper: Stealing to Survive: Crime and Income Shocks in 19th Century France (2013)
Working Paper: Stealing to Survive: Crime and Income Shock in 19th century France (2013)
Working Paper: Stealing to Survive: Crime and Income Shocks in 19th Century France (2011)
Working Paper: Stealing to Survive: Crime and Income Shocks in 19th Century France (2011)
Working Paper: Stealing to Survive: Crime and Income Shocks in 19th Century France (2011)
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