The effect of urban renewal projects on crime rates in United States cities

This research endeavours to contribute to the understanding of the relationship between urban renewal and criminal activity on a city level. Through a comprehensive literature review and panel data analysis, the research aims to establish further the understanding of impact of urban rejuvenation efforts on crime. The study focuses on major urban renewal projects in 94 U.S. cities from 2000 to 2022. To that end, with data sourced from the FBI Crime Data Explorer, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and City and Town Intercensal Datasets difference-in-difference analysis is performed. While acknowledging potential selection bias and limitations, the research seeks to provide insights into the dynamics of crime rates and the impact of urban renewal initiatives. The Master Thesis consists of literature review, theoretical considerations, methodology and analytical process description, as well as the interpretation and discussion of empirical findings.