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A Panel-based Proxy for Gun Prevalence in the US

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Listed:
  • Daniel Cerqueira
  • Danilo Santa Cruz Coelho
  • John J. Donohue
  • Marcelo Fernandes
  • Jony Arrais Pinto Jr.

Abstract

There is a consensus that the proportion of suicides committed with a firearm is the best proxy for gun ownership prevalence. Cerqueira et al. (2108) exploit the socioeconomic characteristics of suicide victims in order to develop a new and more refined proxy. It is based on the fixed effects of the victim's place of residence estimated from a discrete choice model for the likelihood of committing suicide with gun. We empirically assess this new indicator using gun ownership data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and suicide registers of the US National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) from 1995 through 2004. We demonstrate that this new gun proxy provides significant gains in correlation with the percentage of households with firearms.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Cerqueira & Danilo Santa Cruz Coelho & John J. Donohue & Marcelo Fernandes & Jony Arrais Pinto Jr., 2019. "A Panel-based Proxy for Gun Prevalence in the US," NBER Working Papers 25530, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25530
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Briggs, Justin Thomas & Tabarrok, Alexander, 2014. "Firearms and suicides in US states," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 180-188.
    2. Philip J. Cook & Jens Ludwig, 2002. "The Effects of Gun Prevalence on Burglary: Deterrence vs Inducement," NBER Working Papers 8926, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Cummings, P. & Koepsell, T.D. & Grossman, D.C. & Savarino, J. & Thompson, R.S., 1997. "The association between the purchase of a handgun and homicide or suicide," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 87(6), pages 974-978.
    4. Daniel Cerqueira & Danilo Coelho & Marcelo Fernandes & Jony Pinto Junior, 2018. "Guns and Suicides," The American Statistician, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 72(3), pages 289-294, July.
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    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law

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