EXPLORING THE EFFECT OF INVESTMENTS IN SOCIAL SERVICES, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY ON CRIME RATES: DO INVESTMENT DECISIONS MATTER?

Abstract

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau are used to test the relationship of local social services, public safety, and education expenditures, all as proportions of total local expenditures aggregated to the state level, with the property and crime rates for years 2007 through 2010. Previous literature and theory suggest that any significant relationships to crime would be inverse relationships. The initial results of this study indicate an unexpected significant positive relationship between the proportion of social services expenditures and the violent crime rate for years 2007 through 2010. The results also indicate a significant inverse relationship between proportion of public safety expenditures and the violent crime rate, but not for all years tested. Results should be viewed in the context of the limitations of the current study.