Poverty and Witch Killing

S-Tier
Journal: Review of Economic Studies
Year: 2005
Volume: 72
Issue: 4
Pages: 1153-1172

Score contribution per author:

8.043 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This study uses rainfall variation to estimate the impact of income shocks on murder in rural Tanzania. Extreme rainfall (drought or flood) leads to a large increase in the murder of "witches"—typically elderly women killed by relatives—but not other murders. The findings provide novel evidence on the role of income shocks in causing violent crime, and religious violence in particular. Copyright 2005, Wiley-Blackwell.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:restud:v:72:y:2005:i:4:p:1153-1172
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-26