Exploring the Relationship Between Airbnb and Neighborhood Crime

• In Event: Posters II

Abstract

In recent years technological advances have brought about the “sharing economy.” Companies such as Uber and Airbnb make traveling and driving more convenient. These services alter people’s movement across space, however, their broader impact on neighborhoods is unknown. Current policy debates surrounding Airbnb focus on economic regulation, but another important question is whether the presence of Airbnb listings affects neighborhood crime rates. The current project examines the answers to this question using routine activities theory. Airbnb may influence the spatial dynamics of potential offenders, targets and capable guardians. Sociodemographic variables and business property variables that affect the ambient population, such as hotels, are also compared. This study will initiate a discussion on sharing economies, and their impact on ambient populations and crime.

Authors

• Michelle D. Mioduszewski, University of California, Irvine

• Christopher Jay Bates, University of California, Irvine