Barbarino, Alessandro and Mastrobuoni, Giovanni (2014) The Incapacitation Effect of Incarceration: Evidence from Several Italian Collective Pardons. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 6 (1). pp. 1-37. DOI https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.6.1.1
Barbarino, Alessandro and Mastrobuoni, Giovanni (2014) The Incapacitation Effect of Incarceration: Evidence from Several Italian Collective Pardons. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 6 (1). pp. 1-37. DOI https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.6.1.1
Barbarino, Alessandro and Mastrobuoni, Giovanni (2014) The Incapacitation Effect of Incarceration: Evidence from Several Italian Collective Pardons. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 6 (1). pp. 1-37. DOI https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.6.1.1
Abstract
<jats:p>We estimate the “incapacitation effect” on crime using variation in Italian prison population driven by eight collective pardons passed between 1962 and 1990. The prison releases are sudden (within one day), very large (up to 35 percent of the entire prison population), and happen nationwide. Exploiting this quasi-natural experiment we break the simultaneity of crime and prisoners and, in addition, use the national character of the pardons to separately identify incapacitation from changes in deterrence. The elasticity of total crime with respect to incapacitation is between −17 and −30 percent. A cost-benefit analysis suggests that Italy's prison population is below its optimal level. (JEL K42)</jats:p>
Item Type: | Article |
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Additional Information: | DOI: 10.1257/pol.6.1.1 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | K42 |
Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform K Law > K Law (General) |
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences Faculty of Social Sciences > Economics, Department of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 09 Jan 2015 14:38 |
Last Modified: | 04 Dec 2024 06:37 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/12249 |