THE SPATIAL ASPECTS OF CRIME

This paper aims to explain the spatial variations of crime, both between and within cities. Two types of mechanisms are put forward: Social interactions that stipulate that an individual is more likely to commit crime if his peers commit than if they do not commit crime, and distance to jobs that indicates that remote residential location induces individuals to commit more crime. Both mechanisms are shown to have strong empirical support. (JEL: K42, R1)