When it comes to reducing crime, it is useful to consider measures which focus on the possible causes of crime such as a lack of opportunities or a lack of access to financial services. Following this proactive thinking, can increasing access to home mortgage credit reduce the crime rate in an area? According to Will Bunting, assistant research professor of legal studies, the answer is yes.

In an analysis of crime incident data for San Diego County from 2007 to 2013, Bunting found that an increase in access to home mortgage loans decreases the growth in total crime incidents.