Can COVID-19 Lockdown Reduce Crimes Against Women? A District- Level Analysis from India

Abstract

In response to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian government implemented a nationwide lockdown on 24 March 2020. We study the effect of lockdown on crimes against women. Using district-level panel data from 457 districts in India for five months (before, during and post-lockdown), we examine the interaction effect of COVID-19 containment zones and lockdown on crimes against women. Results suggest a differential impact of the lockdown on crime across different containment zones. Compared to the most COVID-19 affected zone, the less affected zones show a larger fall in crimes against women due to the imposition of a lockdown. JEL Classifications: C33, J16, J78