This paper provides an exploratory analysis into factors contributing to differences across states in recidivism rates. We provide the first such examination that incorporates differences in economic freedom. Using a panel data set from 1998-2010, we find that higher levels of economic freedom...

The income convergence literature suggests that poor countries or regions can catch-up to rich ones conditional on sharing certain characteristics with rich countries or regions. Good institutions such as strong property rights and rule-of-law are key among those characteristics. Globalization...

We revisit the relationship between informal institutions and income levels. The empirical literature on institutions finds that indices of 'informal institutions' such as trust, respect, respect, self-determination and obedience are more important than 'formal institutions' such as...