NCJ Number
123682
Journal
American Journal of Economics and Sociology Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1990) Pages: 1-5
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Previous research has indicated that the "learning by doing" (L.B.D.) method of gaining expertise employed by criminals increases the level of current criminal activity while police outlays remain level.
Abstract
This hypothesis is tested by statistical analysis of time series cross sectional data on crime levels, police outlays, and socioeconomic factors including unemployment rates, education, and income. The L.B.D. effect was introduced as an explanatory variable. The results indicate that L.B.D. has a positive effect on criminal activity; that police outlays have a negative and significant effect on crime; and that the unemployment rate is a positive and significant coefficient, while education has a negative but not significant effect, and the effect of income is ambiguous. The effect of other variable on crime characteristic of each State is measured by the coefficient of the dummy variables. 1 table, 10 references. (Author abstract modified)