The Effect of Education Policy on Crime: An Intergenerational Perspective

Ulrika Ahrsjo, Costas Meghir, Marten Palme and Marieke Schnabel

No 20606, CEPR Discussion Papers from Centre for Economic Policy Research

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

Keywords: Economics of crime; Returns to education; Intergenerational transmission; Compulsory schooling laws (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I20 I21 I28 J62 K42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-09
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