Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Discussion Papers on Economics,
University of Southern Denmark, Department of Economics

No 19/2013: Does Owner-Occupied Housing Affect Neighbourhood Crime?

Jørgen Lauridsen (), Niels Nannerup () and Morten Skak ()
Additional contact information
Jørgen Lauridsen: Department of Business and Economics, Postal: University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
Niels Nannerup: Department of Business and Economics, Postal: University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
Morten Skak: Department of Business and Economics, Postal: University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark

Abstract: Economic as well as sociological theory bring some support to the hypothesis that personal home ownership per se makes individuals more responsible to society values and hence less inclined to commit offences against property or commit other kinds of crimes. Departing from this hypothesis, the present study seeks to provide empirical evidence for a link between levels of crime and local residential ownership rates. In the framework of a linear regression model and based on Danish municipality data, we establish empirical evidence for a negative relationship between local home ownership rates and local crime rates even when controlling for a broad range of economic and demographic variables.

Keywords: Housing market; Violence crime; Simple crime; Neighbourhood deprivation

JEL-codes: C21; C23; C33; K42; P25; R31

10 pages, December 3, 2013

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