Analysis of the effects of qualitative and quantitative educational indicators on crime in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Crime is a recurring problem in Brazilian society with significant negative impacts on social well-being. The dynamics of crime are related to various factors, including educational level. In this sense, this study aims to analyze the effects of education on two different types of crime in the state of Minas Gerais, violent crimes against property and violent crimes against persons, considering the period between 2013 and 2021. To measure the level of education, two measures were used: a qualitative one, measured by the Education Quality Index for the 3rd grade of high school, and a quantitative one, weighted by the high school age -grade distortion rate. To identify the relationship between crime and education, data from the Minas Gerais Social Responsibility Index, provided by the Jo & atilde;o Pinheiro Foundation, was used. In methodological terms, an econometric model with dynamic panel data was estimated using the Method of Generalized Moments. The results show a negative and significant relationship between the quality of education and crime. On the other hand, the quantitative variable education was not statistically significant in the estimated model. Thus, public policies that increase the quality of education would be more effective in reducing crime in the state. It is also important to note that these results can be extended to the whole country, as the state of Minas Gerais is the second most populous in Brazil, has the third largest share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and has regional discrepancies that illustrate the Brazilian panorama.