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dc.titleCombating Crime in Latin America and the Caribbean: What Public Policies Do Citizens Want?
dc.contributor.authorCafferata, Fernando Gabriel
dc.contributor.authorScartascini, Carlos
dc.contributor.orgunitDepartment of Research and Chief Economist
dc.coverageLatin America and the Caribbean
dc.date.available2021-06-02T00:00:00
dc.date.issue2021-06-02T00:00:00
dc.description.abstractCrime is a major problem in Latin America and the Caribbean. With 9 percent of the world's population, the region accounts for 33 percent of global homicides. Using new, extensive survey data, we endeavor to identify what anti-crime policies citizens in the region demand from their governments. We also analyze who is demanding what and why. We find that harsher penalties appear to be the preferred weapon in the anti-crime arsenal but people are willing to spend public moneys not only for punishment, but also for anti-poverty and detection policies. Citizens recognize that allocating resources to the police is better than subsidizing private security for citizens. Nevertheless, most oppose raising taxes to fund the police, a reluctance that might stem from mistrust in governments' ability to manage these resources. Mistrust, misinformation, and impatience combine to create flawed anti-crime policy. Educating citizens both about crime and about the fiscal consequences of their policy preferences may help move the region's public opinion toward a better policy equilibrium. Governments should also invest in their capability to design and deliver evidence-based solutions for fighting crime, and work to increase trust levels among citizens.
dc.format.extent68
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0003306
dc.identifier.urlhttps://publications.iadb.org/publications/english/document/Combating-Crime-in-Latin-America-and-the-Caribbean-What-Public-Policies-Do-Citizens-Want.pdf
dc.identifier.urlhttps://publications.iadb.org/publications/spanish/document/Como-combatir-la-delincuencia-en-America-Latina-Que-politicas-publicas-demandan-los-ciudadanos.pdf
dc.language.isoen
dc.mediumAdobe PDF
dc.publisherInter-American Development Bank
dc.subjectPublic Policy
dc.subjectPolice Force
dc.subjectCrime Prevention
dc.subjectVictim of Violence
dc.subjectCrime Rate
dc.subjectCitizen Security and Crime Prevention
dc.subjectDelinquency
dc.subjectPolice Service
dc.subjectCitizen Safety
dc.subjectVictim of Violence
dc.subject.jelcodeK14 - Criminal Law
dc.subject.jelcodeK42 - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
dc.subject.jelcodeH40 - Publicly Provided Goods: General
dc.subject.jelcodeD78 - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation
dc.subject.jelcodeH31 - Household
dc.subject.keywordsCrime;crime prevention;public policy;survey data;Police Force
dc.typeMonographs
idb.identifier.pubnumberIDB-MG-00890
idb.operationRG-K1199
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