Working Paper: NBER ID: w21828
Authors: Jason M. Lindo; Peter M. Siminski; Isaac D. Swensen
Abstract: This paper considers the degree to which events that intensify partying increase sexual assault. Estimates are based on panel data from campus and local law-enforcement agencies and an identification strategy that exploits plausibly random variation in the timing of Division 1 football games. The estimates indicate that these events increase daily reports of rape with 17-24 year old victims by 28 percent. The effects are driven largely by 17-24 year old offenders and by offenders unknown to the victim, but we also find significant effects on incidents involving offenders of other ages and on incidents involving offenders known to the victim.
Keywords: sexual assault; college culture; football games; party culture
JEL Codes: I23; K42
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| partying behavior (C92) | reports of rape victimization among 17-24 year old women (I24) |
| college football game days (Z29) | reports of rape victimization among 17-24 year old women (I24) |
| home game days (Z29) | reports of rape victimization among 17-24 year old women (I24) |
| away game days (Z29) | reports of rape victimization among 17-24 year old women (I24) |
| college football game days (Z29) | reports of rape involving offenders aged 17-24 (J13) |
| college football game days (Z29) | reports of rape involving unknown offenders (Y50) |
| college football game days (Z29) | total reports of rape (K42) |
| college football game days (Z29) | increase in alcohol-related offenses (K42) |