DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME AND HOMICIDES: LIGHT EFFECT IN CRIMES OF A BRAZILIAN STATE

Abstract

This article analyzes the effect of daylight saving time (DST) on crimes in
the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. With the argument that DST provides “more”
hours of light throughout the day, it is expected that the criminal behavior will reduce at
its implantation, since a clearer environment can dissuade the potential criminal. Making use of several regression discontinuity design (RDD) models and a daily database
ranging from 2006 to 2014 of the Mortality Information System (SIM) of Datasus, the
models were estimated separately by year, being able to include wheater independent
variables (such as temperature, precipitation and wind speed) and fixed effects of days
of the week. It was evidenced that DST has no significant effect on changes in homicide
rates per 100,000 inhabitants, neither in its beginning, nor its end. On the other hand,
it has been found that, in general, there is a strong weekend effect on criminal activity
and some evidence that homicide rates are related to temperature.