Researchers

Lauren Hoehn-Velasco, Adan Silverio-Murillo, Jose Roberto Balmori de la Miyar

Abstract

This paper considers whether the COVID-19 stay-at-home order affected crimes targeting women. We use national municipal-level crime data from Mexico’s National Public Security System, which reports sexual crimes, lapses in alimony, domestic violence, and femicides. We track monthly changes in crime using an event-study design. Our results show three main patterns. First, lapses in alimony, sexual crimes, and domestic violence follow a U-shaped trend. Each crime declined and then rose back to their pre-COVID levels. Second, femicides, the most violent crime against women, remained constant during the pandemic. Third, we find that femicides declined in municipalities with alcohol sales prohibition.

Project Outcomes of Interest

Crime rates (monthly)

Key Findings

• Lapses in alimony, sexual crimes, and domestic violence follow a U-shaped trend. Each crime declined and then rose back to their pre-COVID levels.
• Femicides, the most violent crime against women, remained constant during the pandemic.
• Femicides declined in municipalities with alcohol sales prohibition.

Link to Results

Link to working paper

Impact Goals

Results Status

Results

Results

• Lapses in alimony, sexual crimes, and domestic violence follow a U-shaped trend. Each crime declined and then rose back to their pre-COVID levels.
• Femicides, the most violent crime against women, remained constant during the pandemic.
• Femicides declined in municipalities with alcohol sales prohibition.