Data and Code for "Sweeping up gangs: The effects of tough-on-crime policies from a network approach"

Globally, gang proliferation is fought primarily through sweeps. This paper uses a difference-in-differences strategy to examine their causal impact on crime for arrested individuals and their peers. The analysis focuses on the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, which underwent a notable policy shift. Findings reveal significant crime reductions among those arrested and their peers, of 85% and 31%, respectively. Evidence suggests the first stems from incapacitation and the second from a less criminal environment. A counterfactual exercise suggests that broader targeting of key players could have reduced crime by 43ppt more. Together, this implies network analysis could enhance policy formulation.