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Do preferences of drinker-drivers differ?

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  • Frank Sloan
  • Lindsey Eldred

Abstract

Why people engage in illegal activities is not well understood. Using data collected for this research from eight cities in four states, this study investigates alternative explanations as to why people drive while intoxicated (DWI). We find that preferences and subjective beliefs about arrest/incarceration of persons who drink and drive do differ systematically from others in terms of benefits and costs of drink and driving, and in their risk tolerance. While most findings imply that DWI is a deliberate choice, we do find that drinker drivers tend to be more impulsive and lack self-control in their drinking. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Frank Sloan & Lindsey Eldred, 2015. "Do preferences of drinker-drivers differ?," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 241-268, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ijhcfe:v:15:y:2015:i:2:p:241-268
    DOI: 10.1007/s10754-015-9169-x
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    3. Chad Cotti & John Gordanier & Orgul Ozturk, 2016. "Eat (and Drink) Better Tonight: Food Stamp Benefit Timing and Drunk Driving Fatalities," American Journal of Health Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 2(4), pages 511-534, Fall.
    4. Witvorapong, Nopphol & Watanapongvanich, Somtip, 2020. "Using pre-commitment to reduce alcohol consumption: Lessons from a quasi-experiment in Thailand," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Driving while intoxicated; Preferences; Drinker drivers; Rational choice; Decision-making; K42; K14;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law

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