Happiness and Beliefs in Criminal Environments

46 Pages Posted: 25 Apr 2011

See all articles by Rafael Di Tella

Rafael Di Tella

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Hugo Ñopo

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Robert MacCulloch

University of Auckland Business School

Date Written: December 2008

Abstract

This paper uses newly available data to describe the distribution of crime victimization and other criminal activities (including drug trafficking and corruption) around the world. The paper then documents a negative (positive) correlation between measures of criminal activity and happiness and measures of positive (negative) emotions. The paper also studies the correlation between ideological beliefs and criminal activity, finding that crime victims are more likely to believe that hard work does not pay and that the government should increase the amount of redistribution to the poor.

Suggested Citation

Tella, Rafael Di and Nopo, Hugo and MacCulloch, Robert, Happiness and Beliefs in Criminal Environments (December 2008). IDB Working Paper No. 554, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1821905 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1821905

Rafael Di Tella (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available

Hugo Nopo

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) ( email )

1300 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20577
United States

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Robert MacCulloch

University of Auckland Business School ( email )

12 Grafton Rd
Private Bag 92019
Auckland, 1010
New Zealand

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