CRIMINALITY IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL: AN ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS FOR COREDES IN THE YEAR 2010

Abstract

The present work aims to identify some of the factors that determine criminality in the regions of Rio Grande do Sul, based on the state division known as Regional Development Councils - COREDES. For this purpose, econometric models were estimated through Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) for theft, robbery and homicide and it was concluded that geographic features of each region - such as demographic density and urbanization rate - influence the occurrence of some crimes. Moreover, from income variables analysis, it was found that the income increase causes the crime rates to increase as well. However, if this income increase is among the poorest, there is a decrease in crime. In addition, the results pointed out that income inequality and family structure instability have a positive impact on crime rates.