The Economics of Crime: An Introduction to Rational Crime Analysis

Description

The Economics of Crime presents a review of economic scholarly research in the ever-growing field of crime and punishment. Without using graphs or mathematical equations, Winter combines theory and empirical evidence relating to public policy concerns over a wide range of controversial topics such as the death penalty, racial bias in the criminal justice system, gun control, the war on drugs, fines versus imprisonment, policing tactics, and shaming punishments. In addition to offering an updated and expanded coverage of these, and other topics, this second edition is more international in scope, with the inclusion of studies that use data from Italy, Australia, the U.K., Singapore, Brazil, and others. Also included is a brand-new chapter on the application of behavioral economics to crime and punishment, providing readers with a succinct introduction to this modern and increasingly important approach to economic issues. By requiring no previous knowledge of economics, this book continues to be the perfect choice for students new to the study of economics and public policy, whether it is in the discipline of economics, political science, criminology, law, or any other field that is concerned with issues in crime and punishment. Furthermore, due to its accessibility, The Economics of Crime can be enjoyed by anyone who follows current public policy debate over some of society’s most contentious issues. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgments 1. Rational crime basics The rational criminal The benefit of crime Appendix: crime definitions (FBI Uniform Crime Report, 2009) References 2. Crime and the certainty of punishment A brief primer on empirical analysis An empirical crime study Police manpower and crime Policing technology and crime Conviction rates and crime References 3. Severity of punishment I: fines and efficient punishment Certainty versus severity of punishment Some problems with fines Fines and wealthy criminals Shaming punishments Sexual offender registration and notification laws References 4. Severity of punishment II: prison and crime Deterrence versus incapacitation Measuring the incapacitation effect The three-strikes law The privatization of prisons The harshness of sanctions The inequality of equal prison sentences References 5. Severity of punishment III: the death penalty and crime Does the death penalty deter murder? Wrongful conviction/execution Death penalty administrative costs Death penalty and race References 6. Racial bias and the criminal justice system Racial profiling Judicial bias Juror bias Race and criminal background checks Bias in Australia References 7. Private crime deterrence Deterrence versus displacement Shall-issue laws Gun control Gun buybacks and mass shootings Crime as a disease References 8. The war on drugs Addiction and drug control Drug prohibition and violence The case for legalization? References 9. Behavioral crime and punishment Does efficiency matter? Risk, ambiguity, and expected punishment Incapacitation, deterrence, and the framing of prison sentences Implicit racial bias Addiction and impatience Behavioral versus traditional economics: final thoughts References 10. Economists and crime Abortion and the crime rate Final thoughts: what economists do References Index