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On Punishment Severity and Crime Rates

Author

Listed:
  • Tim Friehe

    (University of Marburg)

  • Thomas J. Miceli

    (University of Connecticut)

Abstract

Punishment severity and crime rates vary across jurisdictions. Some countries have punitive sanctions and nevertheless experience relatively high crime rates. This paper explores potential sources of the interjurisdictional heterogeneity in the optimal law enforcement model, paying particular attention to the possibility that the high crime despite high sanctions outcome can be socially optimal. JEL Classification:K42 Key words: crime, deterrence, optimal sanctions, fairness, political economy

Suggested Citation

  • Tim Friehe & Thomas J. Miceli, 2016. "On Punishment Severity and Crime Rates," Working papers 2016-38, University of Connecticut, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:uct:uconnp:2016-38
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Gençay, Gökçe & Mercimek, Anıl, 2019. "Public Consciousness and Influence of Law on Forest Crimes: Insights from Kastamonu, Turkey," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Misuraca, Francesco, 2021. "Civilizzazione e funzione ancillare della forza," SocArXiv k9auc, Center for Open Science.
    3. Mungan, Murat C. & Samuel, Andrew, 2019. "Mimicking, errors, and the optimal standard of proof," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 18-21.
    4. Tim Friehe & Thomas J. Miceli, 2018. "On the role of the exclusionary rule for optimal law enforcement effort," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 20(5), pages 757-767, October.
    5. Yahagi, Ken, 2021. "Law enforcement with motivated agents," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    6. Salvatore Capasso & Rajeev K. Goel & James W. Saunoris, 2019. "Is it the gums, teeth or the bite? Effectiveness of dimensions of enforcement in curbing corruption," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 329-369, December.
    7. Baker, Matthew J. & Miceli, Thomas J., 2021. "Crime, credible enforcement, and multiple equilibria," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    8. Jef De Mot & Murat C. Mungan, 2024. "Whistle‐blowing and the incentive to hire," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 62(3), pages 1292-1308, July.
    9. Ken Yahagi, 2018. "Private law enforcement with competing groups," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 285-297, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    crime; deterrence; optimal sanctions; fairness; political economy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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