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Crime, Unemployment and Society in India : Insights from Rape Data

Prashansa Srivastava

Affiliations:

Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, INDIA

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This paper empirically analyses the relationship between unemployment and rape, using data from 11 states of India. This is undertaken to test whether there is a positive or negative association between unemployment and crime, in particular rape, using the tools of econometrics. Three significant results emerge. First, there exists a negative association between rape and unemployment in India. Second, literacy rates have a positive coefficient with the reasonable interpretation being literacy increases reported rape not actual rape. Third, positive gender developments have a crucial bearing on violent crime against women.

Keywords:
Crime, Unemployment, Rape, Society, Gender Justice

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