Effects of female workforce participation on crime: An analysis from the districts of India

Abstract

This article assesses the impact of female workforce participation on violent and non‐violent crimes in India. Increase in female workforce should lead to greater investment in education and labour, more specifically by men. Greater representation of females also leads to increase in reporting of crime. These factors raise apprehension and conviction costs and should lead to fall in criminal engagements. Estimates suggest that a percent rise in female workforce leads to 1.5% rise in non‐violent crimes contemporaneously. With a decade lag, rise in female workforce causes reduction in violent crime by 1.1% and non‐violent crime by 2.24%.

Psychological and environmental empirics of crimes in Pakistan

“…The cost of committing crime is lower for unemployed workers, as suggested by Gillani et al (2009). Altindag, Goel (2021).…”

Can COVID-19 Lockdown Reduce Crimes Against Women? A District- Level Analysis from India

“…During economic and social crises, women are more likely to face oppression and discrimination. This may have greater effects on crime rates, specifically for women and in general (Agarwal Goel, 2021). Therefore, the prevalence of crime is also associated with multiple crises that result from a forced lockdown.…”

Female education, marital assortative mating, and dowry: Theory and evidence from districts of India

“…Girls are more likely to drop out of schools to take care of younger children in the family, to support household work, or due to financial constraints [White et al (2016)]. The socio-economic status of women in India has remained persistently poor relative to men, and women are less likely to participate in the wage market, own assets, migrate for work, or take part in decision-making within or outside the family [Agarwal Goel (2021)].…”