Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/295956 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 16933
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper estimates the impacts of religiosity on criminal activity using a city-wide shock to religious sentiment from a 2015 Papal visit. Using daily data on all reported offences between 2010 and 2015 in Philadelphia at the census tract level and a difference-in-differences approach, we demonstrate significant reductions in less serious crimes in the week of the visit and for several weeks following. Reductions are particularly pronounced for drug offences and in historically Christian areas. Notably, similar crime effects are not found for President Obama's 2015 visit, suggesting changes in police deployment do not drive results.
Subjects: 
economics of religion
deviant behavior
crime
JEL: 
D74
I25
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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