Working Paper: NBER ID: w26051
Authors: Aaron Chalfin; Benjamin Hansen; Rachel Ryley
Abstract: For every crime there is a victim. However nearly all studies in the economics of crime have focused the causal determinants of criminality. We present novel evidence on the causal determinants of victimization, focusing on legal access to alcohol. The social costs of alcohol use and abuse are sizable and well-documented. We find criminal victimization for both violent and property crimes increases noticeably at age 21. Effects are not present at other birthdays and do not appear to be driven by a birth-day "celebration effect." The effects are particularly large for sexual assaults, especially those that occur in public locations. Our results suggest prior research which has focused on criminality has understated the true social costs associated with increased access to alcohol.
Keywords: Minimum Legal Drinking Age; Crime Victimization; Alcohol Access
JEL Codes: D81; I12; K42
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Legal access to alcohol at age 21 (L66) | victimization rates (K42) |
| Legal access to alcohol at age 21 (L66) | violent crimes victimization rates (K42) |
| Legal access to alcohol at age 21 (L66) | property crimes victimization rates (K42) |
| Legal access to alcohol at age 21 (L66) | victimization in non-residential locations (R33) |