Happiness and Crime: A Time Series Analysis for Iranian Economy
Majid Maddah *
Faculty of Economics, Management and Administrative Sciences, Semnan University–Central Administration of Semnan University, Campus 1, Semnan, I. R. of Iran.
Yasaman Rezaei
Faculty of Economics, Management and Administrative Sciences, Semnan University–Central Administration of Semnan University, Campus 1, Semnan, I. R. of Iran.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Economic and social factors influence criminal behavior. This study examines the relationship between happiness and crime rate using cointegration approach and Granger causality test in Iranian economy over a period of 1984–2019. The results show that first, there is a negative and significant relationship between the expenses of recreation and entertainment by households and crimes rate. Second, educational expenditures and GDP per capita statistically affect crime. The results of paper implies that increasing household’s expenses on entertainment and happiness reduce anxiety and stress and ultimately improve people’s ability and keep them away crime. Thus government, by focus on socio-economic programs stimulate happiness, should prepare the suitable environmental to avoid crime.
Keywords: Happiness, crime, time series data, Iranian economy