Ekonomiskt bistånd och brottslighet i Sverige

Abstract

This study examines the connection between Sweden`s crime rate and financial aid, focusing on the effects of social spending on different types of criminal activity in the Swedish municipalities between 2000 and 2022. Using theories such as social support theory and utility maximization, the study investigates the relationship between economic assistance and crimes like theft, attempted murder, drug offenses, and assault. The results suggest a complicated relationship: financial aid is associated with a rise in drug offenses and assaults but a decrease in larceny and robberies, when controlling for all observed and unobserved time invariant factors in the municipal factors (a fixed effects panel data model). However, when we test our model for robustness, the effects disappear meaning that other factors that are time varying in the municipality are biasing our estimates. Examples for this may be factors like peer pressure, substance addiction, and socioeconomic conditions that have a considerable impact on criminal conduct, financial aid alone may not be adequate to curb crime. The report highlights the necessity for a multimodal strategy that combines financial assistance with other forms of crime prevention. It highlights the importance of further research to explore additional variables influencing criminal activity and to develop comprehensive strategies for crime reduction. Overall, the research contributes to understanding the interplay between economic factors and crime, offering insights into the limitations and potential of economic assistance as a crime prevention tool.