Powdthavee, Nattavudh (2003) Unhappiness and crime: evidence from South Africa. Working Paper. Coventry: University of Warwick, Department of Economics. (Warwick economic research papers.

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Abstract

This paper is the first of its kind to study quality of life responses of crime victims. Using cross-sectional data from the OHS97 survey of South Africa, we show that victims report significantly lower well-being than the non-victims, ceteris paribus. The calculated ‘compensating variation’ suggests that it would take, on average, an extra $10,000 per month to offset the psychological costs of crime. Happiness is lower for nonvictimized respondents currently living in higher crime areas. However, we find a strong evidence for females that criminal victimization hurts, but hurts less if the crime rate on our reference group is high.

Item Type:	Working or Discussion Paper (Working Paper)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform D History General and Old World > DT Africa
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Happiness -- South Africa, Quality of life -- South Africa, Crime -- Sociological aspects, South Africa -- Economic conditions, South Africa -- Social conditions
Series Name:	Warwick economic research papers
Publisher:	University of Warwick, Department of Economics
Place of Publication:	Coventry
Date:	October 2003
Number:	No.685
Number of Pages:	36
Status:	Not Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/1505

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