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Cited by 577Crime Patterns and InterventionsLaw, Economics, and Judicial SystemsCriminal Justice and Corrections Analysis

Education, work, and crime: A human capital approach

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Lochner, Lance·2004·International Economic Review
DOI 10.1111/j.0020-6598.2004.00288.x
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Abstract

This article develops a model of crime in which human capital increases the opportunity cost of crime from foregone work and expected costs associated with incarceration. Older, more intelligent, and more educated adults should commit fewer street (unskilled) crimes. White collar crimes decline less (or increase) with age and education. Predictions for age–crime and education–crime relationships receive broad empirical support in self‐report data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and arrest data from the Uniform Crime Reports. The effects of education, training, and wage subsidies, as well as enforcement policies on criminal behavior are discussed.

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  • Some find that lengthy prison sentences may deplete human capital and alter inmates' capacity to reintegrate into the labor market.

    “Some find that lengthy prison sentences may deplete human capital and alter inmates' capacity to reintegrate into the labor market (Lochner, 2004; Aizer and Doyle Jr, 2015; Mueller-Smith, 2015).”

    From Prison Rehabilitation Programs: Efficiency and Targeting (2021) · cites this paper as Lochner, 2004

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Research works printed but not linked: 30

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Authors
Lochner, L.
Affiliations
Western University (CA)
Corresponding author
Lochner, Lance
ORCID
Lochner, Lance
Venue
International Economic Review
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2004-07-28
Volume
45
Issue
3
Pages
811-843
ISSN
  • 0020-6598 (ISSN-L)
  • 1468-2354
DOI
10.1111/j.0020-6598.2004.00288.x
OpenAlex
W2890986294
Cited by
577
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 18 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 23
FWCI
44.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • International Economic Review (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Law, Economics, and Judicial Systems
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
Keywords
crime, human capital, prison costs, education and crime, age and crime, white-collar crime, street crime, wage subsidies, training subsidies, criminal behavior, criminal policy, National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, Uniform Crime Reports

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