Para além da fronteira: o impacto da descriminalização das drogas no Uruguai sobre a criminalidade no Brasil

Abstract

Crime is a problem generated by the economic conditions of a country, which leads to social problems felt by the entire population. Every year, researchers and public authorities have sought to understand what are the determinants of crime, an area that has been gaining relevance in empirical studies in Brazil and worldwide. To date, in many Latin American countries, anti-drug policies are one of the means by which the problem of crime has been addressed, policies that are repressive rather than preventive. However, Uruguay stands out among Latin American countries, as it became a pioneer in creating a public policy that decriminalizes the recreational consumption of marijuana in the country, in which the State assumes a central role in controlling the cannabis market. The effects of this new policy could directly impact neighboring countries, such as Brazil, which borders the Uruguayan country through the state of Rio Grande do Sul. In this sense, the present study sought to analyze the impact of the Uruguayan marijuana legalization policy on theft, robbery and homicide crimes in the municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul in the border region between the two countries, in the period from 2008 to 2019. the Differences in Differences model, to estimate the causal effect of the Uruguayan legislation. The results found indicated that the legalization of marijuana had a positive impact on theft and robbery crimes. No significant results were found for homicides