Criminal Networks: Who is the Key Player?
75 Pages Posted: 18 Jan 2011
There are 3 versions of this paper
Criminal Networks: Who is the Key Player?
Criminal Networks: Who is the Key Player?
Date Written: January 2011
Abstract
We analyze delinquent networks of adolescents in the United States. We develop a theoretical model showing who the key player is, i.e. the criminal who once removed generates the highest possible reduction in aggregate crime level. We also show that key players are not necessary the most active criminals in a network. We then test our model using data on criminal behaviors of adolescents in the United States (AddHealth data). Compared to other criminals, key players are more likely to be a male, have less educated parents, are less attached to religion and feel socially more excluded. They also feel that adults care less about them, are less attached to their school and have more troubles getting along with the teachers. We also find that, even though some criminals are not very active in criminal activities, they can be key players because they have a crucial position in the network in terms of betweenness centrality.
Keywords: betweenness centrality, Bonacich centrality, Crime, crime policies, network characteristics
JEL Classification: A14, D85, K42, Z13
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?
Recommended Papers
-
Who's Who in Networks: Wanted - the Key Player
By Coralio Ballester, Antoni Calvo-armengol, ...
-
By Antoni Calvo-armengol and Yves Zenou
-
Identification of Peer Effects through Social Networks
By Yann Bramoulle, Habiba Djebbari, ...
-
Peer Effects and Social Networks in Education and Crime
By Antoni Calvo-armengol, Eleonora Patacchini, ...
-
Peer Effects and Social Networks in Education
By Antoni Calvo-armengol, Eleonora Patacchini, ...
-
Peer Effects and Social Networks in Education
By Antoni Calvo-armengol, Eleonora Patacchini, ...