Working Paper: NBER ID: w15894
Authors: Lance Lochner
Abstract: This paper discusses the relationship between education and crime from an economic perspective, developing a human capital-based model that sheds light on key ways in which early childhood programs and policies that encourage schooling may affect both juvenile and adult crime. The paper first discusses evidence on the effects of educational attainment, school quality, and school enrollment on crime. Next, the paper discusses evidence on the crime reduction effects of preschool programs like Perry Preschool and Head Start, school-age programs that emphasize social and emotional development, and job training programs for low-skill adolescents and young adults. Finally, the paper concludes with a broad discussion of education policy and its potential role as a crime-fighting strategy.
Keywords: education; crime; human capital; preschool programs
JEL Codes: H23; I21; J24; K42
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| School quality (I21) | Crime during adolescence (K42) |
| School attendance (I21) | Property crime (K42) |
| School attendance (I21) | Violent crime (K42) |
| Educational attainment (I21) | Adult crime rates (K42) |
| Increases in schooling (I21) | Criminal activity (K42) |
| Preschool programs (I21) | Crime rates (K42) |