The demand for protection and the persistently high rates of gun violence among young black males

William N. Evans and Maciej Kotowski

Journal of Public Economics, 2024, vol. 234, issue C

Abstract: We develop a theoretical model to explain the persistently high level of gun violence for black males ages 15–24 consistent with the empirical literature. A person may carry a gun for instrumental (i.e., criminal) reasons or for its perceived protective benefit. Discerning underlying motives is difficult. A shock to the instrumental benefit can move the equilibrium to one with a high gun prevalence. The model demonstrates that there are larger returns to reducing the value of guns for crime than trying to reduce their protective benefit, suggesting different policy paths to combat the problem of gun violence.

Keywords: Tipping point; Coordination failure; Gun violence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C7 C72 D00 K4 K42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Working Paper: The Demand For Protection and the Persistently High Rates of Gun Violence Among Young Black Males (2022)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:234:y:2024:i:c:s0047272724000501

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2024.105114

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