Replication Files: Crime on the Move? The Effect of Ridesharing Services on Crime

The rapid rise of ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft has transformed urban transportation, but their influence on crime and the mechanisms driving these changes remain under explored. This study examines the impact of the introduction of ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft on crime rates across U.S. cities, leveraging a natural experiment created by their staggered rollout. Using a Two-way Fixed Effects (TWFE) model, I find that the introduction of ridesharing services leads to a 4.7% reduction in violent crimes, a 5.5% decrease in property crimes, and a 10.4% drop in burglary rates. No significant effects are observed for larceny, motor vehicle theft, or arson. I also investigate the heterogeneity of these effects across different demographic groups and conclude that the primary mechanism driving the crime reduction is the improvement in employment opportunities provided by ridesharing services.