The Effect of Education Policy on Crime: An Intergenerational Perspective

Ulrika Ahrsjš, Costas Meghir (), MŒrten Palme () and Marieke Schnabel ()
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Ulrika Ahrsjš: Stockholm School of Economics
Costas Meghir: Cowles Foundation, Yale University, https://cowles.yale.edu/people/costas-meghir
MŒrten Palme: Stockholm University
Marieke Schnabel: University College London

No 2356R2, Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers from Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics, Yale University

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.

Pages: 65 pages
Date: 2025-08-23
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-eur, nep-law and nep-ltv
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