Does Immigration Increase Crime?
Migration Policy and the Creation of the Criminal Immigrant

The supposed link between immigration and crime is a highly contentious issue. This innovative book examines the evidence.

Francesco Fasani (Author), Giovanni Mastrobuoni (Author), Emily G. Owens (Author), Paolo Pinotti (Author)

9781108731775, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 5 September 2019

218 pages, 54 b/w illus. 22 tables
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.1 cm, 0.37 kg

'… the question of immigrant criminality as a component of overall immigrant value is salient, and this work contributes to the search for an answer, albeit in an extremely scholarly manner.' R. F. Zeidel, Choice

Do migrants lead to an increase of crime rates in their host societies? This highly contentious issue has become a mainstay in the political debate and a lightning rod for the galvanization of populist movements, despite often lacking any empirical support. In this game-changing book, the authors examine what the existing data actually says, and provide their own novel evidence on the immigration-crime connection. Taking the unusual approach of analysing the subject from an economic perspective, the authors build on the pioneering work of Nobel Prize winner Gary Becker to construct their innovative arguments. By considering evidence from different countries, with a focus on establishing causal relationships, the authors are able to analyse not only if migrants do cause crime but also whether migration policies can play a role in shaping incentives for migrants to engage in crime. This book will appeal to students and academics across the social sciences, as well as citizens interested in this topical issue.

Introduction
1. Immigration and crime: perceptions and reality
2. Migration policy and crime in Italy
3. Immigration and crime in the United Kingdom
4. The case of the United States
5. Refugee waves and crime: evidence from EU countries
Conclusion
Appendices
References.

Subject Areas: Immigration law [LNDA1], Political economy [KCP], Labour economics [KCF], Comparative politics [JPB], Causes & prevention of crime [JKVC], Migration, immigration & emigration [JFFN], Social discrimination & inequality [JFFJ]