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Economic Freedom and Recidivism: Evidence from US States

Author

Listed:
  • Joshua C. Hall

    (West Virginia University, College of Business and Economics)

  • Kaitlyn Harger

    (West Virginia University, College of Business and Economics)

  • Dean Stansel

    (Florida Gulf Coast University, Lutgert College of Business)

Abstract

This paper provides an exploratory analysis into factors contributing to differences across states in recidivism rates. We provide the first such examination that incorporates differences in economic freedom. Using a panel data set from 1998-2010, we find that higher levels of economic freedom within a state are associated with lower recidivism rates within that state. A one percent increase in economic freedom is associated with a 0.47 percent decrease in recidivism. The relationship is stronger and more statistically significant for labor market freedom, with a one percent increase in labor market freedom being associated with a 0.67 percent decline in recidivism.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshua C. Hall & Kaitlyn Harger & Dean Stansel, 2014. "Economic Freedom and Recidivism: Evidence from US States," Working Papers 14-34, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    • Handle: RePEc:wvu:wpaper:14-34
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    File URL: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1124&context=econ_working-papers
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Francesco Drago & Roberto Galbiati & Pietro Vertova, 2011. "Prison Conditions and Recidivism," American Law and Economics Review, American Law and Economics Association, vol. 13(1), pages 103-130.
    7. Richard J. Cebula & Gigi Alexander, 2015. "An exploratory empirical note on the impact of labour market freedom on the female labour force participation rate in the US," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(8), pages 632-636, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Snyder, Thomas J. & Ouattara, Saliou N., 2017. "Occupational Licensure and Property Crime," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 48(1), October.
    2. Joshua C. Hall & Donald J. Lacombe & Timothy M. Shaughnessy, 2015. "Economic Freedom and Economic Growth Across U.S. States: A Spatial Panel Data Analysis," Working Papers 15-33, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    3. Holland, Thomas & Headley, Heather & Victory, Erinn & Kirby, Jennifer & Koontz, Penny, 2024. "Group behavioral parent training in an incarcerated setting," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    4. Joshua C. Hall, 2017. "A "Model" Model: McCloskey and the Craft of Economics," Working Papers 17-09, Department of Economics, West Virginia University.
    5. Shakya, Shishir & Plemmons, Alicia, 2021. "The Impact of Economic Freedom on Startups," Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Mid-Continent Regional Science Association, vol. 51(1), January.
    6. Choi, Ginny Seung & Storr, Virgil Henry, 2023. "The morality of markets in theory and empirics," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 590-607.
    7. Claudio Detotto & Bryan C. McCannon, 2017. "Economic freedom and public, non-market institutions: evidence from criminal prosecution," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 107-128, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    recidivism; institutions; prison; parole;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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