Universal Cash and Crime

Authors

• Brett Watson
• Matthew Reimer
• Mouhcine Guettabi

Files

Description

We estimate the effects of universal cash transfers on crime from Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend, an annual lump-sum payment to all Alaska residents. We find a 14% increase in substance-abuse incidents the day after the payment and a 10% increase over the following four weeks. This is partially offset by a 8% decrease in property crime, with no changes in violent crimes. On an annual basis, however, changes in criminal activity from the payment are small. Estimated costs comprise a very small portion of the total payment, suggesting that crime-related concerns of a universal cash transfer program may be unwarranted.

Publication Date

4-17-2019

Keywords

Permanent Fund Dividend, Unconditional cash transfer, Welfare effects, Crime, Universal Income

Recommended Citation

Watson, Brett; Reimer, Matthew; and Guettabi, Mouhcine, "Universal Cash and Crime" (2019). Reports. 245.
https://scholarworks.alaska.edu/uaa_iser_reports/245

Handle

http://hdl.handle.net/11122/11996