The Impact of Selected Economic Indicators on Crime in Nigeria

Abstract

The study was designed to analyse the effects of socio economic determinants of crime in Nigeria by estimating the impact of poverty, unemployment and internal security on crime series from 1981 — 2006. The co — integration and parsimonious error correction model was used to examine the short and long run relationship between the variables. Also Granger causality tests was undertaken to determine the direction of causality between crime and the variables. The analysis provided evidence of a long run relationship among crime, poverty, unemployment and internal security/ and a unidirectional causality existed between crime and poverty and internal security, there seemed to be no causal relationship between crime and unemployment. The study recommended implementation/ monitoring of the existing programmes/ policies geared towards reducing poverty and unemployment while also increasing protective services.