Becoming member of the European Union: What is the relationship with the robbery rate?

摘要

This paper aims at investigating the relationship between becoming member of the European Union and the robbery rate. Participating in illegal activities is considered as a consequence of a rational decision under uncertainty. Becoming a member of the European Union entails an improvement in the effectiveness of the police forces and an increase of the awaited welfare. This may affect the individual decision of committing a crime. Using national data from theEurostatdatabase, through a standard panel data analysis, an empirical evidence is provided, considering 12 countries that became members of the European Union between 1995 and 2012. Entering the European Union is negatively and significantly related with countries' robbery rates.