Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/204441 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
Arbeitspapier No. 07/2019
Publisher: 
Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der Gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung, Wiesbaden
Abstract: 
Does the administrative organization of police affect crime? In answering this question, we focus on the reorganization of local police agencies. Specifically, we study the effects police force reallocation via station closures has on local crime. We do this by exploiting a quasiexperiment where a reform substantially reduced the number of police stations. Combining a matching strategy with an event-study design, we find no effects on total theft. Police station closures, however, open up tempting opportunities for criminals in car theft and burglary in residential properties. We can rule out that our effects arise from incapacitation, crime displacement, or changes in employment of local police forces. Our results suggest that criminals are less deterred after police station closures and use the opportunity to steal more costly goods.
Subjects: 
Crime
Policing
Crime Deterrence
Police Station Closures
JEL: 
K42
R53
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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