Crime, inequality and subsidized housing: Evidence from South Africa

We study the relationship between housing inequality and crime in South Africa. create a novel panel dataset combining information on at police station level with census data. Our analysis shows that explains significant share of variation both property violent crimes, net spillover effects, time district fixed effects. An increase roughly one standard deviation 10–12 percent total increases. Additionally, we analyze prominent program for low-income Africans to show policies decrease conditions may also reduce crime. suggest these can help mitigate societal individual strains are often correlated criminal engagement.