American Economic Journal: Applied Economics · 2023 · Nicolás Ajzenman、Patricio Dominguez-Rivera、Raimundo Undurraga
Abstract
This paper studies the effects of immigration on crime and crime perceptions in Chile, where the foreign-born population tripled in less than ten years. We document null effects of immigration on crime but positive and significant effects on crime-related concerns and on preventive behavioral responses, such as investing in home security. We explore several channels and provide suggestive evidence related to low versus high-education immigrants, ethnic-related intergroup threats, and the role of local media.