For a while across nations crime has become a major issue of public concern, political discussion, …show more content…
This project determines the importance of different factors that affect the overall crime rate across countries. This study is important to develop a knowledge base for augmenting the rationality of public policies as well as public expenses related to crime; because not only do decisions regarding crime have to be made well ahead, for the decisions to be effective they have to be well informed as well. It is important for policy makers to know what predictors affect the crime rate to define what type of policy or changes that can be made in order to lower the crime …show more content…
There is also evidence that the societal price of crimes may be greater than average level of criminality; thus having an effect on the gross domestic product (GDP). According to World Bank discussion paper No. 415 rough estimates suggest, for instance, that the cost of crime may be larger than 7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in Latin America, in comparison with 4 percent in the United States. A number of already published papers and reports have explored the relationship between crime and economic growth and development. In one of the reports published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2007, p. 18), it was stated that “More than 80% of 455 Guatemalan businesses polled said they considered crime to be a major constraint on business, compared to an un-weighted global average of 23%. Sixty-one percent of Honduran businesses so reported, the third highest rate recorded (after Kenya).” The report also specified that crime discourages the amassing of assets, increases the price paid for running business due to higher insurance rates, diminishes possible foreign and domestic investments, and results in the loss of skilled workers as they leave the country; all of which affect a nation’s gross product development (GDP). Detotto and Otranto (2010) put together available periodic data on GDP