Understanding the relationship between the economy and crime: Canadian provinces, 1981-2009

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the importance of multiple measures of the economy while investigating the role of the economy with crime, as well as the sensitivity of those results. Design/methodology/approach: Provincial-level data, 1981-2009, and a series of statistical specifications. Findings: The authors find overall support for the Cantor and Land's (1985) model of unemployment and crime. The authors are also able to show the importance of considering multiple measures of economic activity and multiple statistical methods of analysis for the sensitivity of results. Originality/value: Previous research has shown the importance of multiple measures of the economy but not multiple statistical methods as a sensitivity analysis. The authors provide such a sensitivity analysis and show that the Cantor and Land's (1985) model has significant support.