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 …

The trade-off between the immediate returns from committing a crime and the future costs of punishment depends on an … heterogeneity based on age, education, crime type, and nationality. Our estimates imply that the majority of deterrence is derived …

, arrest increases the probability an offender is charged with a crime. Our findings argue against recent calls for a …

The empirical literature testing the economic theory of crime has extensively studied the relative importance of the … probability and the severity of punishment with reference to planned criminal activities. There are, however, also unplanned …

a limited number of studies have linked justice policies to outcomes beyond crime, particularly education, which carries …

We evaluate whether California's state proposition 47 impacted state violent and property crime rates. Passed by the …-level crime rates that exploit heterogeneity in the effects of the proposition on local criminal justice practices. We find little … evidence of an impact on violent crime rates in the state. Once changes in offense definitions and reporting practices in key …

recidivating within a year by 20 percent. This is largely a specific deterrence effect driven by the punishment itself and not by …