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Do anti-bullying laws work? New evidence on school safety and youth violence

Author

Listed:
  • Joseph J. Sabia

    (San Diego State University
    University of New Hampshire
    Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA))

  • Brittany Bass

    (University of California–Irvine)

Abstract

This study is the first to comprehensively examine the effect of state anti-bullying laws (ABLs) on school safety and youth violence. Using existing data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveys and the Uniform Crime Reports, and newly-collected data on school shootings, we find little evidence that the typical state ABL is effective in improving school safety and student well-being. However, this null finding masks substantial policy heterogeneity. State mandates that require school districts to implement strong, comprehensive anti-bullying policies are associated with a 7 to 13 % reduction in school violence and an 8 to 12 % reduction in bullying. In addition, our results show that strong anti-bullying policy mandates are associated with a reduction in minor teen school shooting deaths and violent crime arrests, suggesting potentially important spillover effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph J. Sabia & Brittany Bass, 2017. "Do anti-bullying laws work? New evidence on school safety and youth violence," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 30(2), pages 473-502, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:30:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s00148-016-0622-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-016-0622-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anderson, D. Mark & Sabia, Joseph J., 2016. "Child Access Prevention Laws, Youth Gun Carrying, and School Shootings," IZA Discussion Papers 9830, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Gary S. Becker, 1974. "Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach," NBER Chapters, in: Essays in the Economics of Crime and Punishment, pages 1-54, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. D. Mark Anderson & Benjamin Hansen & Daniel I. Rees, 2015. "Medical Marijuana Laws and Teen Marijuana Use," American Law and Economics Review, American Law and Economics Association, vol. 17(2), pages 495-528.
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    5. Sara Markowitz, 2001. "The Role of Alcohol and Drug Consumption in Determining Physical Fights and Weapon Carrying by Teenagers," Eastern Economic Journal, Eastern Economic Association, vol. 27(4), pages 409-432, Fall.
    6. Marianne Bertrand & Esther Duflo & Sendhil Mullainathan, 2004. "How Much Should We Trust Differences-In-Differences Estimates?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 119(1), pages 249-275.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Dimitrios Nikolaou, 2022. "Identifying the effects of bullying victimization on schooling," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 40(1), pages 162-189, January.
    2. Dasgupta Kabir & Pacheco Gail, 2018. "Warrantless Arrest Laws for Domestic Violence: How Are Youth Affected?," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 18(1), pages 1-20, January.
    3. D. Mark Anderson & Kyutaro Matsuzawa & Joseph J. Sabia, 2020. "Cigarette Taxes and Teen Marijuana Use," NBER Working Papers 26780, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Li, Qingyi & Cheng, Tyrone C., 2017. "New evidence in physical violent behaviors among school-aged children: A multiple disadvantages model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 301-308.
    5. Daniel I. Rees & Joseph J. Sabia & Gokhan Kumpas, 2020. "Anti-Bullying Laws and Suicidal Behaviors among Teenagers," NBER Working Papers 26777, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Dimitrios Nikolaou, 2022. "Bullying, cyberbullying, and youth health behaviors," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 75(1), pages 75-105, February.
    7. Kim, Jun Hyung & Hahlweg, Kurt & Schulz, Wolfgang, 2021. "Early childhood parenting and adolescent bullying behavior: Evidence from a randomized intervention at ten-year follow-up," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    8. Daniel I. Rees & Joseph J. Sabia & Gokhan Kumpas, 2022. "Anti‐Bullying Laws and Suicidal Behaviors Among Teenagers," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 41(3), pages 787-823, June.
    9. Nikolaou, Dimitrios, 2017. "Do anti-bullying policies deter in-school bullying victimization?," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1-6.
    10. Anderson, D. Mark & Matsuzawa, Kyutaro & Sabia, Joseph J., 2020. "Cigarette Taxes and Teen Marijuana Use," IZA Discussion Papers 12980, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Anderson, D. Mark & Matsuzawa, Kyutaro & Sabia, Joseph J., 2019. "Marriage Equality Laws and Youth Mental Health," IZA Discussion Papers 12819, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bullying; Youth violence; Anti-bullying laws; School shootings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • K0 - Law and Economics - - General

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