Crime and Conformism

Yves Zenou and Eleonora Patacchini

No 5331, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We propose a simple conformism model that explains how parental education and peer pressure impact on criminal activities. We then test the model using the U.S. National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health (AddHealth), which contains unique information on friendship relationships among delinquent teenagers. We find that conformity is very strong within groups of delinquents and that the higher the taste for conformity of an individual, the lower the deviation from the norm's group. These results suggest that, for teenagers, the decision to commit crimes is not a simple choice based primarily on individual considerations but is strongly affected by their environment and peers.

Keywords: Conformism; Norms; Juvenile crime; Parents' education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A14 I21 K42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-law, nep-ltv, nep-reg, nep-soc and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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