IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/socsci/v104y2023i4p436-463.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Institutions and incarceration: The role of economic freedom at the MSA level

Author

Listed:
  • John A. Dove
  • Laura R. Dove

Abstract

Objective We evaluate the relationship between economic freedom and incarceration at the U.S. metropolitan statistical area level. Method We use economic freedom data at the metropolitan statistical area unit and local incarceration data from the Vera Institute in 5‐year intervals from 1977 through 2017. Results Our evidence suggests that greater economic freedom is associated with lower rates of incarceration in jails for the overall population. The channel tends to be through both the first and second economic freedom components (“size of government” and “taxation,” respectively). Finally, the results for juvenile incarcerated populations are largely driven by labor market freedoms. Conclusion To the extent that reducing incarceration rates continue to be viewed as a positive outcome in line with recent trends, this study suggests that promoting laws and policies aimed at enhancing economic freedom could be an avenue to advancing that goal. For proponents, this policy implication has the rare advantage of bipartisan appeal.

Suggested Citation

  • John A. Dove & Laura R. Dove, 2023. "Institutions and incarceration: The role of economic freedom at the MSA level," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 104(4), pages 436-463, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:104:y:2023:i:4:p:436-463
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.13263
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.13263
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/ssqu.13263?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bjørnskov, Christian, 2015. "Does economic freedom really kill? On the association between ‘Neoliberal’ policies and homicide rates," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 207-219.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Olalekan Charles Okunlola & Anthony E. Akinlo, 2021. "Does economic freedom enhance quality of life in Africa?," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 68(3), pages 357-387, September.
    2. Vinicius V. Zanchi & Philipp Ehrl & Daniel T. G. N. Maciel, 2021. "Direct and Indirect Effects of Individualism and Institutions on Homicides," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 153(3), pages 1167-1195, February.
    3. Daniel L. Bennett & Christopher Boudreaux & Boris Nikolaev, 2023. "Populist discourse and entrepreneurship: The role of political ideology and institutions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(1), pages 151-181, February.
    4. Nikolaev, Boris & Bennett, Daniel L., 2016. "Give me liberty and give me control: Economic freedom, control perceptions and the paradox of choice," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 45(S), pages 39-52.
    5. Christian Bjørnskov, 2017. "Growth, Inequality, And Economic Freedom: Evidence From The U.S. States," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 35(3), pages 518-531, July.
    6. Indra de Soysa, 2021. "Economic governance and homicide: Some theory and empirics, 1990–2017," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 58(5), pages 1004-1017, September.
    7. Claudio Detotto & Bryan C. McCannon, 2017. "Economic freedom and public, non-market institutions: evidence from criminal prosecution," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 107-128, May.
    8. Walker A. Wright, 2018. "Is Commerce Good for the Soul? An Empirical Assessment," Economic Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(3), pages 422-433, October.
    9. Olalekan C. Okunlola & Olumide A. Ayetigbo & Sam O. Ajiye, 2022. "Does a free market system reduce conflict in Africa?," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 24(1), pages 147-170, June.
    10. Steffen Roth & Vladislav Valentinov, 2023. "Toward a theory of multifunctional liberalism: Systems‐theoretical reflections on the nature of statehood," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(6), pages 945-954, November.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:104:y:2023:i:4:p:436-463. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0038-4941 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.