Druglords Don’t Stay at Home: COVID-19 Pandemic and Crime Patterns in Mexico City

Mexico Peace & Recovery

Druglords Don’t Stay at Home: COVID-19 Pandemic and Crime Patterns in Mexico City

Template G Content Blocks
Sub Editor

Researchers

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

Abstract

The objective of the study is to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on conventional crime and organized crime in Mexico City, Mexico. Researchers use an event study for the intertemproal variation across the 16 districts (municipalities) in Mexico City for 2019 and 2020, utilizing reported crime data from the Mexico City’s Attorney General’s Office (covering domestic violence, burglary, robbery, vehicle-theft, assault-battery, homicides, kidnapping, and extortion). They find a sharp decrease on crimes related to domestic violence, burglary, and vehicle theft; a decrease during some weeks on crimes related to assaultbattery and extortion, and no effects on crimes related to robbery, kidnapping, and homicides. While our results show a decline in conventional crime during the COVID-19 pandemic, organized crime remains steady. These findings have policy implications for catastrophic events around the world, as well as possible national security issues in Mexico.

Project Outcomes of Interest

Instances of crime in Mexico City

Key Findings

Researchers find a sharp decrease on crimes related to domestic violence, burglary, and vehicle theft; a decrease during some weeks on crimes related to assaultbattery and extortion, and no effects on crimes related to robbery, kidnapping, and homicides. While our results show a decline in conventional crime during the COVID-19 pandemic, organized crime remains steady.

Link to Results

Balmori de la Miyar, Jose Roberto and Hoehn-Velasco, Lauren and Silverio-Murillo, Adan, Druglords Don’t Stay at Home: COVID-19 Pandemic and Crime Patterns in Mexico City (July 15, 2020). Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Research Paper Series Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3667160 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3667160

Impact Goals

  • Promote peace and safety, and improve humanitarian response

Results Status

Results

Results

Researchers find a sharp decrease on crimes related to domestic violence, burglary, and vehicle theft; a decrease during some weeks on crimes related to assaultbattery and extortion, and no effects on crimes related to robbery, kidnapping, and homicides. While our results show a decline in conventional crime during the COVID-19 pandemic, organized crime remains steady. These findings have policy implications for catastrophic events around the world, as well as possible national security issues in Mexico.