This paper aims at investigating the relationship between becoming member of the European Union and the robbery rate. Participating in illegal activities is considered as a consequence of a rational decision under uncertainty. Becoming a member of the European Union entails an improvement in the effectiveness of the police forces and an increase of the awaited welfare. This may affect the individual decision of committing a crime. Using national data from the Eurostat database, through a standard panel data analysis, an empirical evidence is provided, considering 12 countries that became members of the European Union between 1995 and 2012. Entering the European Union is negatively and significantly related with countries’ robbery rates.

本文旨在调查成为欧盟成员与抢劫率之间的关系。参加非法活动被认为是不确定性下理性决策的结果。成为欧洲联盟的一员，将使警察部队的效力有所提高，期待的福利也有所增加。这可能会影响犯罪的个人决定。使用来自欧盟统计局数据库的国家数据，通过标准的面板数据分析，提供了经验证据，考虑了12个在1995年至2012年期间成为欧洲联盟成员的国家。加入欧洲联盟与各国的抢劫率呈负相关且显着相关。