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CRIME, YOUTH, AND THE LABOR MARKET (FROM ECONOMICS OF CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, 1976 BY LEE R MCPHETERS AND WILLIAM B STRONGE - SEE NCJ-37726)

NCJ Number
37737
Author(s)
L PHILLIPS; H L VOTEY; D MAXWELL
Date Published
1976
Length
15 pages
Annotation
INVESTIGATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS THAT INCREASING CRIME RATES FOR YOUTH CAN BE EXPLAINED BY DETERIORATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, FOCUSING ON LARCENY, BURGLARY, ROBBERY, AND AUTO THEFT.
Abstract
A MODEL WAS CONSTRUCTED INCLUDING ALL OF THE POPULATION SUBSETS, CLASSIFIED BY LABOR MARKET ACTIVITY AND RACE, FOR A PARTICULAR POPULATION AGE GROUP. TWO ALTERNATIVE FORMULATIONS OF THE MODEL WERE TESTED - CLASSIFICATION OF THE POPULATION AS NOT WORKING AND OTHERS, AND AS IN THE LABOR FORCE OR NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE OR OTHERS. THE ESTIMATES OF THE NON-WORKING FORMULATION INDICATE THAT AN INCREASE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND/OR A DECREASE IN THE PARTICIPATION RATE WILL, REGARDLESS OF RACE, INCREASE THE CRIME RATE. THE LABOR FORCE/NOT IN LABOR FORCE FORMULATION DEMONSTRATED THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTICIPATION RATES RELATIVE TO UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN EXPLAINING CRIME RATES. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT A SUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON RISING CRIME RATES MUST CONSIDER EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS FACING YOUNG PEOPLE.