Work and Crime: An Exploration Using Panel Data

21 Pages Posted: 12 Jun 2000 Last revised: 8 Aug 2022

See all articles by Ann Dryden Witte

Ann Dryden Witte

Wellesley College - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Helen Tauchen

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: July 1994

Abstract

In this paper we explore the relationship between crime and work using data for a cohort sample of young men. We find that working and going to school significantly decrease the probability of committing criminal acts and by virtually identical amounts. Parochial school education and higher IQ are also significantly associated with lower criminal proclivities, but a high school degree has no significant effect. These findings, in conjunction with other research, suggest that participation in legitimate activities (employment or school) per se has a greater effect on criminal behavior than does the higher income associated with employment or educational attainment.

Suggested Citation

Dryden Witte, Ann and Tauchen, Helen V., Work and Crime: An Exploration Using Panel Data (July 1994). NBER Working Paper No. w4794, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=232053

Ann Dryden Witte (Contact Author)

Wellesley College - Department of Economics ( email )

106 Central Street
Wellesley, MA 02181
United States
781-283-2163 (Phone)
781-283-2177 (Fax)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Helen V. Tauchen

University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill - Department of Economics ( email )

Chapel Hill, NC 27599
United States
919-966-2384 (Phone)

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
113
Abstract Views
1,996
Rank
438,854
PlumX Metrics