Working Paper: NBER ID: w12754
Authors: Hope Corman; Kelly Noonan; Nancy E. Reichman; Ofira Schwartzsoicher
Abstract: Few studies in the economics literature have linked individuals' criminal behavior to changes in their personal circumstances. Life shocks, such as natural or personal disasters, could reduce or sever a person's connections to his/her family, job, or community. With fewer connections, crime may become a more attractive option. This study addresses the question of whether an exogenous shock in life circumstances affects criminal activity. Specifically, we estimate the effects of the birth of a child with a random and serious health problem (versus the birth of a healthy infant) on the likelihood that the child's father becomes or remains involved in illegal activities. Controlling for the father's pre-birth criminal activity, we find that the shock of having a child with a serious health problem increases both the father's post-birth conviction and incarceration by 1 to 8 percentage points, depending on the measure of infant health used.
Keywords: crime; infant health; criminal activity; social capital
JEL Codes: I1; K42
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Birth of a child with a serious health problem (I19) | Father's criminal activity (K42) |
| Very severe infant health condition (I12) | Father's criminal activity (K42) |
| Severe infant health condition (I12) | Father's criminal activity (K42) |
| Low birth weight (J13) | Father's criminal activity (K42) |
| Father's past criminal history (J12) | Father's future criminal behavior (J12) |
| Shock of having an unhealthy child (I19) | Increased criminal behavior among younger, unmarried, and uneducated fathers (J12) |