Typologies of Crime in the Argentine Provinces. A Panel Study 2000-2008

This study examines the socioeconomic and deterrence determinants of crime in Argentina for different typologies of property crimes and crimes against person. We employ a panel of Argentinean regions over the years 2000-2008. Our econometric methodology follows GMM estimator commonly applied for dynamic panel data model. The results give evidence that unemployment has a positive and significant effect on total and property crimes but its impact depends on the typology of the offense. However it has no effect on crimes against person. The importance and the sign of Income per capita depend on the typology of the crime. Income inequality proved to be less important when explaining property crimes and crimes against person. The deterrence effects proxied by the arrest and sentence rates are always negative and very significant.