The Effect of Education Policy on Crime: An Intergenerational Perspective

Ulrika Ahrsjö, Costas Meghir, Mårten Palme and Marieke Schnabel

Journal of Political Economy, 2026, vol. 134, issue 9, 2602 - 2638

Abstract: We examine the intergenerational effect of education policy on crime. Using administrative data that link outcomes across generations with crime records, we show that the Swedish comprehensive school reform, gradually implemented between 1949 and 1962, reduced conviction rates both for the generation directly affected and for their sons. The reduction occurred across several types of crime. Mediation analysis suggests that the key channels include increased parental educational attainment and household income, as well as reduced criminal behavior among fathers.

Date: 2026
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