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Rare homicides, criminal behavior, and the returns to police labor

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  • Lovett, Nicholas
  • Xue, Yuhan

Abstract

We evaluate the impact of increased policing on criminal behavior by leveraging the quasi-random timing of homicides in jurisdictions where homicides are rare and spur increases in policing. Across jurisdictions, we evaluate offending immediately before and after a rare homicide using a regression discontinuity design in conjunction with high-frequency incident data. We reveal substantial, and precise declines in total and violent crime that are robust to a host of changes in the analysis. We contribute by plausibly isolating the impacts of increased police labor, and explicitly studying policing and offending outside large metropolitan centers.

Suggested Citation

  • Lovett, Nicholas & Xue, Yuhan, 2022. "Rare homicides, criminal behavior, and the returns to police labor," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 172-195.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:194:y:2022:i:c:p:172-195
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2021.12.023
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    1. Francisco Rodr'iguez, 2022. "Sanctions and Imports of Essential Goods: A Closer Look at the Equipo Anova (2021) Results," Papers 2212.09904, arXiv.org.
    2. Trudeau, Jessie, 2022. "Limiting aggressive policing can reduce police and civilian violence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    3. Rodriguez, Francisco, 2022. "Sanctions and Imports of Essential Goods; A Closer Look at the Equipo Anova (2021) Results," MPRA Paper 115714, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Homicide; Policing; Deterrence; Regression discontinuity in time; Event study;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • H76 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Other Expenditure Categories

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