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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.
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    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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