Immigration, Crime, and Crime (Mis)Perceptions

72 Pages Posted: 2 Dec 2020 Last revised: 26 Oct 2022

See all articles by Nicolas Ajzenman

Nicolas Ajzenman

McGill University - Department of Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Patricio Dominguez-Rivera

Inter-American Development Bank

Raimundo Undurraga

New York University (NYU)

Date Written: September 2, 2020

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of immigration on crime and crime perceptions in Chile, where the foreign-born population tripled in less than ten years. We document null effects of immigration on crime but positive and significant effects on crime-related concerns and on preventive behavioral responses, such as investing in home security. We explore several channels and provide suggestive evidence related to low versus high-education immigrants, ethnic-related intergroup threats, and the role of local media.

Keywords: crime, immigration, crime perception, crime beliefs

JEL Classification: O15, F22, K1

Suggested Citation

Ajzenman, Nicolás and Dominguez-Rivera, Patricio and Undurraga, Raimundo, Immigration, Crime, and Crime (Mis)Perceptions (September 2, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3689249 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3689249

Nicolás Ajzenman (Contact Author)

McGill University - Department of Economics ( email )

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IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

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Patricio Dominguez-Rivera

Inter-American Development Bank

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Washington, DC 20577
United States

Raimundo Undurraga

New York University (NYU) ( email )

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