Citation

Discussion Paper Details

Please find the details for DP12023 in an easy to copy and paste format below:

Full Details | Bibliographic Reference

Full Details

Title: Marginal Deterrence at Work

Author(s): Rosario Crin�, Giovanni Immordino and Salvatore Piccolo

Publication Date: May 2017

Keyword(s): death penalty, Enforcement Policies, Individual-Level Data and Marginal Deterrence

Programme Area(s): Public Economics

Abstract: We test the rational economic model of marginal deterrence of law enforcement --- i.e., the need for graduating the penalty to the severity of the crime. We use a unique data set, which combines individual-level data on sentence length for a representative sample of US inmates with proxies for maximum punishment and monitoring costs across US states over 50 years. We show that the penalty is increasing in the level of the offense. Consistent with the marginal deterrence framework, we also document that a decrease in maximum penalty or an increase in monitoring cost are associated with longer sentences and higher monitoring rates. We also provide evidence that the effects of maximum penalty and monitoring cost are stronger in states where income inequality is higher. Finally, we show that steeper sanctions are associated with less harmful crimes. Overall, these findings favor the marginal deterrence framework over the maximal penalty principle and other competing theories of justice.

For full details and related downloads, please visit: https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=12023

Bibliographic Reference

Crin�, R, Immordino, G and Piccolo, S. 2017. 'Marginal Deterrence at Work'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=12023