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The Impact of Weight-Based Penalties on Drug Purity and Consumption: A Theoretical Analysis

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Author Info
Robert T. Burrus, Jr. () (University of North Carolina Wilmington)
Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of an increase in law enforcement on the purity of illicit drugs and illicit drug consumption. The impact is explored under the assumption that dealer penalties increase in the weight of drugs sold (as stipulated by current U.S. drug sentencing guidelines) and under the assumption that penalties increase in the effective dose, equal to purity times weight, of drugs sold. The paper finds that an increase in either the certainty of dealer or user punishment, under the assumption of weight-based dealer penalties, may increase the purity and the quantity of drugs consumed. An increase in the certainty of either dealer or user punishment, under effective dose-based penalties, decreases drug purity and the quantity of drugs consumed.

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File URL: http://college.holycross.edu/eej/Volume32/V32N4P629_646.pdf
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Publisher Info
Article provided by Eastern Economic Association in its journal Eastern Economic Journal.

Volume (Year): 32 (2006)
Issue (Month): 4 (Fall)
Pages: 629-646
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Handle: RePEc:eej:eeconj:v:32:y:2006:i:4:p:629-646

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  1. Suren Basov & Mireille Jacobson & Jeffrey A. Miron, 2001. "Prohibition and the Market for Illegal Drugs," World Economics, World Economics, Economic & Financial Publishing, PO Box 69, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, RG9 1GB, vol. 2(4), pages 133-157, October. [Downloadable!]
  2. Lee, Li Way, 1993. "Would Harassing Drug Users Work?," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 101(5), pages 939-59, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Michael Grossman & Frank J. Chaloupka & Charles C. Brown, 1999. "The Demand for Cocaine by Young Adults: A Rational Addiction Approach," NBER Working Papers 5713, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  4. Poret, Sylvaine, 2002. "Paradoxical effects of law enforcement policies: the case of the illicit drug market," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 465-493, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  5. Benson, Bruce L, et al, 1992. "Is Property Crime Caused by Drug Use or by Drug Enforcement Policy?," Applied Economics, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 24(7), pages 679-92, July.
  6. Jeffrey A. Miron, 1999. "Violence and the U.S. Prohibition of Drugs and Alcohol," NBER Working Papers 6950, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  7. Friedrich Schneider, 2001. "What Do We Know About the Shadow Economy?," World Economics, World Economics, Economic & Financial Publishing, PO Box 69, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, RG9 1GB, vol. 2(4), pages 19-32, October. [Downloadable!]
  8. Becker, Gary S & Murphy, Kevin M, 1988. "A Theory of Rational Addiction," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 96(4), pages 675-700, August. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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