Scientific article
English

Broadband Internet and Crime

ContributorsMasiero, Ilaria
Published inReview of law & economics, p. 28
First online date2023-11-21
Abstract

This paper empirically investigates the impact of broadband diffusion on crime. I employ state-level data on high-speed Internet penetration and criminal activity in the United States from 2000 to 2012. To tackle the endogeneity of broadband diffusion, I rely on a set of technologically motivated instrumental variables. The outcomes show that the impact of high-speed Internet diffusion on crime is negative and it is not significant for more severe offenses. Concerning the underlying mechanism, I find support for the hypothesis that the broadband-driven crime reduction occurs through a voluntary incapacitation effect, as people change their leisure time allocation by spending more time at home and off the streets. This in turn reduces the availability of criminal opportunities – and crime levels. Finally, my results suggest that the voluntary incapacitation effect concerns both sides of criminal interactions.

Keywords
  • Broadband Internet
  • Crime
  • Voluntary incapacitation
  • Instrumental variables
Affiliation entities Not a UNIGE publication
Citation (ISO format)
MASIERO, Ilaria. Broadband Internet and Crime. In: Review of law & economics, 2023, p. 28. doi: 10.1515/rle-2022-0055
Main files (1)
Article (Submitted version)
accessLevelRestricted
Identifiers
Journal ISSN1555-5879
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Creation21/11/2023 10:26:41
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