The Impact of Income Inequality on Crime：The Empirical Study of Taiwan

• Main Authors: Yi-Siou Shih, 施怡秀
• Other Authors: Jyh-Lin Wu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/04905888025087452666

碩士 === 國立中山大學 === 經濟學研究所 === 100 === This paper investigates the impact of income inequality on grand total crime, larceny and violent crime by using the dynamic panel data of 20 cities and counties in Taiwan during 1998 to 2010. The empirical results show that income inequality has a significant positive impact on grand total crime, larceny and violent crime, but unemployment rate and the proportion of the population between 15 and 64 years old both have no significant influence on three kinds of crimes. Moreover the effect of the other explanatory variables is significant on at least one kind of crimes. The empirical results also support that the criminal expected utility theory, social anomic, disorganization, conflict and strain theories are helpful to explain the criminal behavior of Taiwan.