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The Deterrence Effects of Gun Laws in Games with Asymmetric Skills and Information

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  • Oliveira Cristiano

    (Economics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, Avenida Itália km 8 - Carreiros, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul)

  • Balbinotto Neto Giácomo

    (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – UFRGS, Avenida João, Pessoa, 52 - Centro, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)

Abstract

This paper presents a game-theoretic model of crime and self-defense with gun use. The main purpose is to evaluate gun control policy effectiveness on crime reduction. The effects of assumption regarding the type of information agent’s possess and some extensions such as criminals’ skills advantage and different costs in gun carrying are studied. The results show that policies that increase gun availability make criminals always carry guns, even if they have a fighting advantage over the victims. The main conclusions are that gun control under complete information assumption leads to a decrease of gun crimes and that such policies are more effective to reduce crime when they affect both criminal’s and victim’s costs. Under incomplete information gun control generates multiple equilibria where criminals alternate between crimes with and without guns. In this case the effects of gun policy on crime depend on the share of population type.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliveira Cristiano & Balbinotto Neto Giácomo, 2015. "The Deterrence Effects of Gun Laws in Games with Asymmetric Skills and Information," Review of Law & Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 11(3), pages 435-452, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:rlecon:v:11:y:2015:i:3:p:435-452:n:2
    DOI: 10.1515/rle-2012-0016
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Monteiro, L.H.A., 2020. "More guns, less crime? A dynamical systems approach," Applied Mathematics and Computation, Elsevier, vol. 369(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gun control; crime; game theory;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games

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