Working Paper: NBER ID: w18887
Authors: Hope Corman; Dhaval M. Dave; Nancy E. Reichman
Abstract: We investigate the effects of broad-based work incentives on female crime by exploiting the welfare reform legislation of the 1990s, which dramatically increased employment among women at risk for relying on cash assistance. We find that welfare reform decreased female property crime arrests by 4-5%, but did not affect other types of crimes. The effects appear to be stronger in states with lower welfare benefits and higher earnings disregards, and in states with larger caseload declines. The findings point to broad-based work incentives--and, by inference, employment--as a key determinant of female property crime.
Keywords: welfare reform; female crime; employment; work incentives; public assistance
JEL Codes: H53; I3; J22; K42
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Welfare reform (I38) | Female property crime arrests (K42) |
| States with lower welfare benefits (I38) | Female property crime arrests (K42) |
| Higher earnings disregards (J31) | Female property crime arrests (K42) |
| Larger declines in welfare caseloads (I38) | Female property crime arrests (K42) |
| Welfare reform (I38) | Other types of crimes (K42) |
| Increased legal employment opportunities (K37) | Female property crime arrests (K42) |