Economic Freedom and Recidivism: Evidence from US States

Joshua Hall, Kaitlyn Harger and Dean Stansel
Additional contact information
Kaitlyn Harger: West Virginia University, College of Business and Economics
Dean Stansel: Florida Gulf Coast University, Lutgert College of Business

No 14-34, Working Papers from Department of Economics, West Virginia University

Abstract: This paper provides an exploratory analysis into factors contributing to differences across states in recidivism rates. We provide the first such examination that incorporates differences in economic freedom. Using a panel data set from 1998-2010, we find that higher levels of economic freedom within a state are associated with lower recidivism rates within that state. A one percent increase in economic freedom is associated with a 0.47 percent decrease in recidivism. The relationship is stronger and more statistically significant for labor market freedom, with a one percent increase in labor market freedom being associated with a 0.67 percent decline in recidivism.

Keywords: recidivism; institutions; prison; parole (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D02 K14 K42 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 20 pages
Date: 2014-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-law
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Journal Article: Economic Freedom and Recidivism: Evidence from US States (2015)
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