Existe explicação econômica para o sub-registro de crimes contra a propriedade?

Abstract

In this paper we intend to analyze the influence of socioeconomic factors on the under-recorded crimes against property. The victim's decision to record a crime or not to the competent authorities, is based on the hypothesis of the victim's economic rationality. Using individual data from a victimization survey undertaken in four capitals of Brazil and a probit model, we found evidences in favor of the hypothesis that the victims of crimes act rationally, evaluating the costs and expected benefits of recording or not the crime to the authorities. It was observed that the some of the victim's personal characteristics, the losses, law enforcement and the fear of reprisals are factors that affect his or her decision.