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Crime in Scandinavia during World War II

Swedish Institute for Social Research, Stockholm

What is the impact of war on crime? A large number of studies have dealt with the subject but have usually focused on only one country at a time. In an attempt to illustrate the question more systematically the Scandinavian countries (excluding Iceland) during World War II have been compared in regard to the development of theft, homicide and assault. Theft rose in all four countries, the explanations being economic factors such as inflation, falling real wages and shortage of goods. Homicide rates, according to conviction data, remained on their `ordinary' levels throughout the war. The total level of alcohol consumption, as strongly influenced by official alcohol policies, had an important impact on the development of assault. Controlling for the number of enlisted men, female crime in all the countries increased more than that of men. The classic hypothesis that war raises morals and reduces crime did not receive support. Not only did total crime and convictions rise but they also seem to have done so regardless of the morally different war experiences of the Scandinavian countries: Finland as a belligerent, Sweden as a neutral and Denmark and Norway as occupied.

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