Macro-Economic Instability and Crime

This paper adds to the literature on the economic determinants of crime by examining the impact of macro-economic instability. Instability increases the frustration level of individuals and incites them to smooth their income by using illegal earnings. Results from a panel of developed and developing countries for the period 1980-97 suggests that macro-economic instability had a significant impact on crime, both homicide and robbery. However, homicide and robbery do not react to instability in the same way.