PUP-3002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Broken Windows Theory, Utility, Mothers Against Drunk Driving
2 Feb 2018
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Document Summary
Certain variables affect an individual"s probability of crime. Wealth (-) (aka any value that is a negative) Data is voluntarily submitted to it by about 17,000 local law enforcement agencies. Measurement error: some agencies may interpret the fbi"s guidelines differently or not report certain crimes for political reasons. Measurement error: many victims do not report crime. A large survey of randomly selected american households regarding crime victimization. Generally, finds more crime than reported in the ucr. Becker (1968) argued that crime is a function of: the punishment associated with being arrested and convicted the probability of being arrested and convicted the return or benefit from crime, which is also weighed. Incorporates human psychology into expected utility theory; very similar. State the equation for crime as a rational choice. Expected utility (crime) = probability (not caught) * utility of not caught + Used by becker to define the rationality behind criminal behavior; weighing the costs.
