Changes in urban crime: From the “neoliberal period” to the “left turn”

Abstract

The present work is based on my own research, which washas been carried out in Argentina duringthroughout the plast decade and a half, among young people who committed property crimes involving violence (Kessler 2004,; 2013). For heuristic purposes, I define its aims as a comparison of between the neoliberal (1990?2003) and the post-postneoliberal periods (2003 onwards). Based on the life trajectory and history of more than a hundred youths, it seeks to assess the changes and continuities from one period to another. Finally, this chapter delves into a matter of particular concern among colleagues from different countries inof the region: namelythat is, why did the reduction of inequality not result inimply a decreasedrop in crime? I argue that the changes in the forms of crime are largely shaped by two sets of events. On the one hand, there have been mutations in the labor market (in addition to the variable availability of jobs, changes in theirits quality, and the relationship the youths establishes with work in each period). On the other hand, in every period crime is influenced by the way in which a number of societal factorssituations such as deprivation, consumption, stigma, youth identities, peer groups, and police relationsthe relationship with the police are experienced.