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Do Gun Buybacks Save Lives? Evidence from Panel Data

Author

Listed:
  • Leigh, Andrew

    (Parliament of Australia)

  • Neill, Christine

    (Wilfrid Laurier University)

Abstract

In 1997, Australia implemented a gun buyback program that reduced the stock of firearms by around one-fifth. Using differences across states in the number of firearms withdrawn, we test whether the reduction in firearms availability affected firearm homicide and suicide rates. We find that the buyback led to a drop in the firearm suicide rates of almost 80 per cent, with no statistically significant effect on non-firearm death rates. The estimated effect on firearm homicides is of similar magnitude, but is less precise. The results are robust to a variety of specification checks, and to instrumenting the state-level buyback rate.

Suggested Citation

  • Leigh, Andrew & Neill, Christine, 2010. "Do Gun Buybacks Save Lives? Evidence from Panel Data," IZA Discussion Papers 4995, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp4995
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ajdacic-Gross, V. & Killias, M. & Hepp, U. & Gadola, E. & Bopp, M. & Lauber, C. & Schnyder, U. & Gutzwiller, F. & Rössler, W., 2006. "Changing times: A longitudinal analysis of international firearm suicide data," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(10), pages 1752-1755.
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    5. Liesbet Okkerse, 2008. "How To Measure Labour Market Effects Of Immigration: A Review," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 1-30, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Steffen Hurka & Christoph Knill, 2020. "Does regulation matter? A cross‐national analysis of the impact of gun policies on homicide and suicide rates," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(4), pages 787-803, October.
    2. Jan C. Ours & Ben Vollaard, 2016. "The Engine Immobiliser: A Non‐starter for Car Thieves," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 126(593), pages 1264-1291, June.
    3. Abdul Munasib & Genti Kostandini & Jeffrey L. Jordan, 2018. "Impact of the Stand Your Ground law on gun deaths: evidence of a rural urban dichotomy," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 527-554, June.
    4. Joseph G. Eisenhauer, 2025. "Gun Taxes and Homicide Rates," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 51(2), pages 225-245, April.
    5. Holly Vins & Jesse Bell & Shubhayu Saha & Jeremy J. Hess, 2015. "The Mental Health Outcomes of Drought: A Systematic Review and Causal Process Diagram," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-25, October.
    6. Evans, William N. & Kotowski, Maciej H., 2024. "The demand for protection and the persistently high rates of gun violence among young black males," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    7. Balestra, Simone, 2018. "Gun prevalence and suicide," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 163-177.
    8. Briggs, Justin Thomas & Tabarrok, Alexander, 2014. "Firearms and suicides in US states," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 180-188.
    9. Gregory E. Goering, 2011. "Gun Buybacks and Firm Behavior: Do Buyback Programs Really Reduce the Number of Guns?," Review of Economics & Finance, Better Advances Press, Canada, vol. 1, pages 31-42, February.
    10. Taylor, Benjamin & Li, Jing, 2015. "Do fewer guns lead to less crime? Evidence from Australia," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 72-78.
    11. Kerry O’Brien & Walter Forrest & Dermot Lynott & Michael Daly, 2013. "Racism, Gun Ownership and Gun Control: Biased Attitudes in US Whites May Influence Policy Decisions," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(10), pages 1-10, October.
    12. Bernd Hayo & Florian Neumeier & Christian Westphal, 2019. "The social costs of gun ownership revisited," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 56(1), pages 1-12, January.
    13. Joshua Ball & Günther G. Schulze & Nikita Zakharov, 2024. "Ain’t no Silver Bullet? Gun Laws and Suicide in the US," Discussion Paper Series 51 JEL Classification: I1, Department of International Economic Policy, University of Freiburg, revised Dec 2024.
    14. Evans, William N. & Garthwaite, Craig & Moore, Timothy J., 2022. "Guns and violence: The enduring impact of crack cocaine markets on young black males," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).

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    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law

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