The impact of public lighting improvement on crimes and incivilities reduction in Chile

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the Public Lighting Replacement Programme on crimes and incivilities reduction in various municipalities in Chile. A quantitative approach was employed, using stratification and matching techniques to simulate randomized trials based on observational data. Data were extracted from governmental sources and statistics for the period 2015-2019, covering 101 municipalities where lighting improvements were implemented and 244 municipalities that were not treated. The main results suggest that improvements in public lighting could be associated with a reduction in certain crimes, such as surprise robbery, and various incivilities, such as street vending and alcohol consumption in public spaces. However, some crimes, such as violent robberies, did not show significant decreases following the intervention. In conclusion, modernizing public lighting can contribute to the prevention of both crime and incivilities, but its impact is heterogeneous. Unobserved factors, underreporting, and implementation variations may influence results. Complementary measures, such as targeted patrolling, are essential to address violent crime and persistent incivilities. This study underscores the need for integrated urban security strategies to enhance public safety in Chile.