Broken Windows, Broken Theory: How City Planning Actually Affects Crime

Abstract

This Note examines the effects urban planning has on crime rates in two cities. The first, Washington, D.C., passed the Legacy Plan in 1997 to improve city aesthetics and revitalize businesses. Neighboring Alexandria, Virginia passed new city planning ordinances in 1992. The differential timing gives rise to a natural experiment for examining the impact of city planning on crime rates. A difference-in-differences analysis is used to compare the effect of the Legacy Plan in Washington, D.C. before and after its adoption, relative to the control jurisdiction of Alexandria during the same period. The difference-in-differences estimation produced one statistically significant result for motor vehicle thefts. There was also an overall decrease in crimes in both cities over the period studied. Recommendations for future research and for practice are discussed.