Stealing to Survive? Crime and Income Shocks in 19th Century France

Bignon, Vincent; Caroli, Eve; Galbiati, Roberto

Bignon, Vincent; Caroli, Eve; Galbiati, Roberto (2017), Stealing to Survive? Crime and Income Shocks in 19th Century France, The Economic Journal, 127, 599, p. 19-49. 10.1111/ecoj.12270

Type

Article accepté pour publication ou publié

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https://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-00623804

Date

2017

Nom de la revue

The Economic Journal

Volume

127

Numéro

599

Éditeur

Macmillan

Pages

19-49

Identifiant publication

10.1111/ecoj.12270

Métadonnées

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Auteur(s)

Bignon, Vincent
DGEI - DEMFI - Banque de France
Caroli, Eve

Galbiati, Roberto

Résumé (EN)

Using local administrative data from 1826 to 1936, we document the evolution of crime rates in 19th century France and we estimate the impact of a negative income shock on crime. Our identification strategy exploits the phylloxera crisis. Between 1863 and 1890, phylloxera destroyed about 40% of French vineyards. We use the geographical variation in the timing of this shock to identify its impact on property and violent crime rates, as well as minor offences. Our estimates suggest that the phylloxera crisis caused a substantial increase in property crime rates and a significant decrease in violent crimes.

Mots-clés

Crime; income shock; phylloxera; 19th century France

JEL

R11 - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
N33 - Europe: Pre-1913
K42 - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law