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Cited by 160Crime Patterns and InterventionsCriminal Justice and PenologyLaw, Economics, and Judicial Systems

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Official Crime Statistics: Their use and Interpretation

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MacDonald, Ziggy·2002·The Economic Journal
DOI 10.1111/1468-0297.00685
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Abstract

In this paper we consider the data used by economists to estimate economic models of crime. We discuss the main sources of Official Crime Statistics in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, and raise questions about the reliability of these data for estimation and forecasting purposes. In particular, we focus on the disparity between crime rates suggested by victimisation surveys and the rates suggested by Official Statistics, and show that this is primarily a consequence of under‐reporting by victims and under‐recording by the police. We conclude our analysis by considering the factors that influence the under‐reporting of crime.

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Research works printed but not linked: 23

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Metadata

Authors
MacDonald, Z.
Affiliations
University of Leicester (GB)
Corresponding author
MacDonald, Ziggy
Venue
The Economic Journal
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2002-02-01
Volume
112
Issue
477
Pages
F85-F106
ISSN
  • 0013-0133 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-0297
DOI
10.1111/1468-0297.00685
OpenAlex
W1983292609
Cited by
160
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 13
FWCI
9.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm, 4960 d)
Locations
  • The Economic Journal (publishedVersion)
  • SSRN Electronic Journal (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Law › Criminal Justice and Penology
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Law, Economics, and Judicial Systems
Keywords
official crime statistics, crime rates, crime prediction, data reliability, United Kingdom, Europe, United States

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