Impact of petroleum development on lethal violence

Abstract

Rapid social change is hypothesized to be associated with social disorder. This study investipates the relationship between petroleum extraction activity in the Gulf of Mexico and lethal violence in Louisiana across allphases of development, controlling for degree and type of community involvement in the industry. The results show that rapid increases in petroleum activity are associated with increases in lethal violence. Rapid decreases in activity are disruptive and associated with high levels of lethal violence. The relationship between petroleum extraction and lethal violence differs by degree, but not type, of involvement in the industry. The evidence implies that petroleum industry activity is a force of production, but not direction, of lethal violence. © 1999 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.