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The opportunity cost of the upkeep of the criminal justice system in South Africa from 1980 to 2006

Author

Listed:
  • Pierre de Villiers

    (Department of Economics, University of Stellenbosch)

  • Soon Nel

    (Department of Accountancy, University of Stellenbosch)

Abstract

South African crime rates rose to unacceptably high levels between 1980 and 2006. As a result, vast amounts of funds were devoted to the upkeep of the criminal justice system – correctional services, justice and the police. Although it is necessary to spend a certain amount on the criminal justice system, in South Africa this expenditure was excessive by most measures. The excess funds that were spent on the upkeep of the criminal justice system could have covered the cost of financing the entire backlog in schooling facilities and a large part of the current housing shortage.

Suggested Citation

  • Pierre de Villiers & Soon Nel, 2009. "The opportunity cost of the upkeep of the criminal justice system in South Africa from 1980 to 2006," Working Papers 18/2009, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:sza:wpaper:wpapers91
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    File URL: https://www.ekon.sun.ac.za/wpapers/2009/wp182009/wp-18-2009.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2009
    Download Restriction: no
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    Citations

    RePEc Biblio mentions

    As found on the RePEc Biblio, the curated bibliography for Economics:
    1. > Law and Economics > Economics of Crime > Crime Prevention > Police Funding

    More about this item

    Keywords

    crime; opportunity costs; criminal justice system; social services;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D00 - Microeconomics - - General - - - General
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H10 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - General
    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General

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