e-space
Manchester Metropolitan University's Research Repository

    Estimating the effects of crime maps on house prices using an (Un)natural experiment: A study protocol

    Zhang, Meng Le, Adepeju, Monsuru ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9006-4934 and Thomas, Rhiannon (2022) Estimating the effects of crime maps on house prices using an (Un)natural experiment: A study protocol. PLoS One, 17 (12). e0278463-e0278463. ISSN 1932-6203

    [img]
    Preview
    Published Version
    Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

    Download (706kB) | Preview

    Abstract

    Street-level crime maps are publicly available online in England and Wales. However, there was initial resistance to the publication of such fine-grained crime statistics, which can lower house prices and increase insurance premiums in high crime neighbourhoods. Identifying the causal effect of public crime statistics is difficult since crime statistics generally mirror actual crime. To address this question empirically, we would ideally experiment and introduce a source of random variation in the crime statistics. For instance, we could randomly increase or decrease the number of offences displayed in crime statistics and measure their effects on local house prices. For obvious reasons, we cannot pursue this research design. However, street-level crime maps contain intentional errors, which are the product of a geomasking algorithm designed to mask the location of crimes and protect the identity of victims. This project leverages features associated with the geomasking algorithm to estimate the effect of public crime statistics on house prices.

    Impact and Reach

    Statistics

    Activity Overview
    6 month trend
    299Downloads
    6 month trend
    45Hits

    Additional statistics for this dataset are available via IRStats2.

    Altmetric

    Repository staff only

    Edit record Edit record