I would like to know if I should use was or may have been in the following example:
In this study, we found that crime rates increased by 30%. Although several factors may have influenced this result, appointing the most influential factors is difficult.
Perhaps the increase in crime rates was mostly influenced by the increase in unemployment, which increased by 46% during the study period.
Perhaps the increase in crime rates may have been mostly influenced by the increase in unemployment, which increased by 46% during the study period.