DeAngelo, Gregory; Hansen, Benjamin - In: American Economic Journal: Economic Policy 6 (2014) 2, pp. 231-57
Simultaneity complicates the estimation of the causal effect of police on crime. We overcome this obstacle by focusing on a mass layoff of Oregon State Police in February of 2003. Due solely to budget cuts, 35 percent of the roadway troopers were laid off, which dramatically reduced citations....