Rainfall Shocks and Property Crimes in Agrarian Societies: Evidence from India

18 Pages Posted: 30 Jan 2013

See all articles by David S. Blakeslee

David S. Blakeslee

NYU-AD; New York University (NYU) - New York University, Abu Dhabi

Ram Fishman

Tel Aviv University

Date Written: January 29, 2013

Abstract

We examine the effects of rainfall shocks on various the incidence of crime in India from the years 1971-2000. We find that the incidence of most crimes increases with negative rainfall shocks. Positive rainfall shocks, in contrast, lead to increases in property crimes, but have no effect on non-property crimes. These findings are consistent with economic models of crime emphasizing both opportunity costs and returns.

Keywords: Crime, Rainfall Shocks

JEL Classification: O10, O13

Suggested Citation

Blakeslee, David S. and Blakeslee, David S. and Fishman, Ram, Rainfall Shocks and Property Crimes in Agrarian Societies: Evidence from India (January 29, 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2208292 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2208292

David S. Blakeslee (Contact Author)

NYU-AD ( email )

Sama Tower
Elektra St
Abu Dhabi, NY Abu Dhabi 129188
United Arab Emirates

New York University (NYU) - New York University, Abu Dhabi ( email )

PO Box 129188
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates

Ram Fishman

Tel Aviv University ( email )

Ramat Aviv
Tel-Aviv, 6997801
Israel

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