What is the Relationship between Unemployment and Rape? Evidence from a Panel of European Regions

29 Pages Posted: 18 May 2015

See all articles by Raul Caruso

Raul Caruso

Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milan

Date Written: May 18, 2015

Abstract

This paper empirically analyzes the relationship between unemployment and rape in a panel of European regions. Results show that rape and unemployment are positively associated. Results are robust using alternative dependent variables, namely (i) the count of rape; (ii) the rape rate per 100,000 people. When applying gender-specific measures, only total female unemployment appears to explain the positive association. Yet, the main findings are confirmed when using youth unemployment. Interestingly, only male youth unemployment seems to explain the positive association between rape and youth unemployment. Among control variables, interestingly, education is positively associated with rape. The reasonable interpretation is that education does not increase rape in itself but rather ‘reported rape’. As expected, measures of future economic opportunities are negatively associated with emergence of rape.

Keywords: rape, violent crime, unemployment, youth unemployment, education

JEL Classification: J12; J18; J64; K42; I29

Suggested Citation

Caruso, Raul, What is the Relationship between Unemployment and Rape? Evidence from a Panel of European Regions (May 18, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2607380 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2607380

Raul Caruso (Contact Author)

Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Milan ( email )

20123 Milano
Italy

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