Abstract

SORIA ROMO, Rigoberto. An Estimate of the Cost of Insecurity and Violence in Mexico: A Comparative Analysis of Federative States. Gest. polít. pública [online]. 2018, vol.27, n.1, pp.111-147. ISSN 1405-1079.

This paper estimates the cost of insecurity and crime (CID) in Mexico at a state level for 2013. The accounting approach is used, classifying costs as follows: anticipation, consequence or remedial, and response. Each of these is measured in terms of the state’s gross domestic product and per capita. National average for CID in 2013 was 5.69 per cent of the gross domestic product. The average CID per capita is 6 799 Mexican pesos. It is observed that the richest states are the ones that spend the most. This relation deserves further discussion. We conclude that if the expenditure in public security were oriented to prevention of insecurity, social expenditure, infrastructure or some other area that may impact cultural change, economic growth and job generation, this would allow to boost greater social equality and opportunities.

Keywords : public security; crime; social cost; public spending; gross domestic product.