environment. Using geocoded crime data and a novel source of within-city spatial and temporal variation in punishment severity, I … consistent with police treating enforcement effort and punishment severity as complementary. I also find that citywide crime and … punishment and suggests that certain types enforcement can be reduced without incurring large public safety costs …

evidence on punishment preferences, in which subjects reveal a heterogeneous preference for punishing wrongdoers, our model … identifies circumstances in which “punitive” individuals (with stronger-than-average punishment preferences) will self …-select into law enforcement jobs that offer the opportunity to punish (or facilitate the punishment of) wrongdoers. Such “punitive …

This paper develops a dynamic life-cycle equilibrium model of crime with hetero-geneous agents and human capital … accumulation. Agents decide at each point in time whether to commit crimes by comparing potential gains from crime to the expected … cost of punishment (determined from the probability of apprehension, the utility cost of incarceration, and reduced future …

double dividend in that it reduces both minor offenses and more severe crime. We develop a model of criminal subcultures in … attractive for some people who would otherwise commit more severe crime. If social status is sufficiently important in criminal … subcultures, zero-tolerance reduces crime across the board. -- status concerns ; street crime ; subcultures ; penalties ; zero …