Thesis
Crime and Compensation: An Analysis of Wages, Unemployment, and Government Assistance
University of Iowa
Bachelor of Science (BS), University of Iowa
Spring 2022
Abstract
How do wage changes affect individuals' decisions on participating in crime? Do government assistance programs have an effect on state crime rates? Can the government reduce crime by increasing quality of life through monetary benefits? The answers to these questions are pertinent to policy regarding wages, unemployment, and government assistance programs. Three fixed effects regressions using data on minimum wage, average wage, unemployment, and government assistance were ran to find the effect economic factors have on crime rates in the United States. Average wage and unemployment have the largest effect on crime rates, while both government assistance programs seem to have an insignificant effect overall. The participation rate of the SNAP program is positively associated with property crime rates, indicating that as people fall under the requirements to qualify for food stamps, crime rates in the state increase. Minimum wage increases do not have a significant effect on property crimes, while average wage increases are associated with reductions in both property and violent crimes.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Crime and Compensation: An Analysis of Wages, Unemployment, and Government Assistance
- Creators
- Noah D Wright
- Contributors
- Hennadige Thenuwara (Advisor) - University of IowaJulia Garlick (Mentor) - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Project Type
- Honors Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Bachelor of Science (BS), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Economics
- Date degree season
- Spring 2022
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 31 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2022 Noah D. Wright
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Honors Program; Business Honors Theses
- Record Identifier
- 9984274758202771
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