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Cited by 14Crime Patterns and InterventionsGender, Labor, and Family DynamicsCriminal Justice and Corrections Analysis

Earned income tax credit and crime

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Lenhart, Otto·2021·Contemporary Economic Policy
DOI 10.1111/coep.12522
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Abstract

This study examines the relationship between earned income tax credit (EITC) laws and crime. Using data from 1999–2017, a period with 73 state EITC changes, I evaluate the effects of state‐level EITCs on violent and property crime. Estimating difference‐in‐differences models, I find that higher EITCs are associated with significant reductions in violent crime, while not affecting property crimes. Introducing high state EITC is associated with a 10.0% reduction in violent crimes, which corresponds to 40 fewer crimes per 100,000 individuals. Event study estimates confirm the negative association between EITC generosity and violent crime.

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  • Several non-peer reviewed economic working papers and one paper published after the search evaluated the role of federal economic policies and were not included in the review.

    “Additionally, several non-peer reviewed economic working papers82,83 and one paper published after our search84 evaluated the role of federal economic policies were not included in our review.”

    From Community investment interventions as a means for decarceration: A scoping review (2022) · cites this paper as [82]

    The Introduction identifies this as a study of EITC policy and crime, but specifies that it examines higher state EITCs. The Discussion and Conclusions likewise says it uses state-level variation in EITC rates, so describing this paper as evaluating federal economic policy is imprecise. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • These papers support the implementation of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act as crime-reducing measures.

    “These papers support the implementation of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act as crime-reducing measures.82,84”

    From Community investment interventions as a means for decarceration: A scoping review (2022) · cites this paper as [82]

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Cited by

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Authors
Lenhart, O.
Affiliations
University of Strathclyde (GB)
Corresponding author
Lenhart, Otto
ORCID
Lenhart, Otto
Venue
Contemporary Economic Policy
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2021-02-03
Volume
39
Issue
3
Pages
589-607
ISSN
  • 1074-3529 (ISSN-L)
  • 1465-7287
DOI
10.1111/coep.12522
OpenAlex
W3112658970
Cited by
14
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1
FWCI
3.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Contemporary Economic Policy (publishedVersion)
  • Strathprints: The University of Strathclyde institutional repository (University of Strathclyde) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
Keywords
Earned Income Tax Credit, crime, violent crime, property crime, state tax policy, low-income households, tax policy effects

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