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Identifying Economic Causes of Mass Shootings

Author

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  • Markus Brueckner
  • Hasin Yousaf

Abstract

Mass shootings are frequent in the United States, which have several adverse effects on society and the economy. There is limited empirically rigorous evidence on the causes of mass shootings. This paper identifies economic causes of mass shootings using oil price windfalls as an exogenous shock to a state’s economic conditions. We find that oil price windfalls lead to significantly lower prevalence, number, and casualties in mass shootings. Our findings are consistent with the view that exogenous increases in average incomes, i.e. improved living standards, reduce the risk of violence.

Suggested Citation

  • Markus Brueckner & Hasin Yousaf, 2024. "Identifying Economic Causes of Mass Shootings," ANU Working Papers in Economics and Econometrics 2024-703, Australian National University, College of Business and Economics, School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:acb:cbeeco:2024-703
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    File URL: https://cbe.anu.edu.au/researchpapers/econ/wp703.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daron Acemoglu & Amy Finkelstein & Matthew J. Notowidigdo, 2013. "Income and Health Spending: Evidence from Oil Price Shocks," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 95(4), pages 1079-1095, October.
    2. Rakesh Banerjee & Tushar Bharati, 2020. "Mass shootings and Infant Health in the United States," Economics Discussion / Working Papers 20-16, The University of Western Australia, Department of Economics.
    3. Mikkel Plagborg‐Møller & Christian K. Wolf, 2021. "Local Projections and VARs Estimate the Same Impulse Responses," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 89(2), pages 955-980, March.
    4. A. R. Pah & J. Hagan & A. L. Jennings & A. Jain & K. Albrecht & A. J. Hockenberry & L. A. N. Amaral, 2017. "Economic insecurity and the rise in gun violence at US schools," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 1(2), pages 1-6, February.
    5. Evi Pappa & Andresa Lagerborg & Morten O. Ravn, 2019. "Does economic insecurity really impact on gun violence at US schools?," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 3(3), pages 198-199, March.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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