PUP FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
punishment by the state - ANSWER-primary cost for one who is convicted of a crime
-includes fines, jail, prison, capital punishment
social costs - ANSWER-ostracism from a group/shame
- a more important deterrent than imprisonment
economic opportunity costs - ANSWER-what a person gives up in legitimate income
for the benefit associated with the crime
capital - ANSWER-a resource used in pursuit of an end
- the more of the resource one has, the better able one is to pursue the end
financial capital - ANSWER-money that can be used to improve products
social capital - ANSWER-social networks that have value
- some argue that social capital is crucial for economic growth
criminal capital - ANSWER-human or social capital that enhances a person's ability
to profit from illegal activity; criminal knowledge and skill set
opportunity cost of crime - ANSWER-smaller for those with smaller wage or those
that are unemployed
recidivism - ANSWER-repeat offending
- is supposed to decrease if they are able to attain legal employment
three strikes and you're out - ANSWER-type of tough on crime imprisonment
strategy
three strikes laws - ANSWER-requires judges to give a mandatory extended
sentence to anyone convicted of 3 serious offenses
- a signal that there is a high cost to crime
-take away judge's discretion
-not all crimes are equal
truth-in sentencing - ANSWER-type of tough on crime law
-requires a person serve at least 85% of their sentence (specifically violent offenses)
-they do reduce violent crime through deterrence
broken windows theory - ANSWER--a policing strategy aggressively targeting minor
offenses
,- argues that when police foot patrol increases, the amount of fear of a typical citizen
decreases and higher levels of public order
-advocates targeting minor offenses that can be used as signals that worse offenses
are okay
arguments against Broken Windows argument in NYC - ANSWER-1. other cities
experienced a drop in crime
2. abortion is the primary causal factor
3. more police contributed to the decline
endogeneity - ANSWER-a suggested cause may be the effect or caused by some
other variable
- if something is endogenous then it is not a cause
according to Levitt, more police - ANSWER-leads to a drop in homicide but not a
significant decline in property crimes
externalities - ANSWER-effects that are not directly intended
abortion and crime - ANSWER-- a positive externality with regard to crime
- abortions occur because of unwanted pregnancies, unwanted children are at a
higher risk of committing crime; therefore, abortion contributes to a reduction of
crime as seen in the 90s
capital punishment - ANSWER-a.k.a. death penalty
- supported by a majority of people
-has little effect on crime reduction
states in which judges are elected have more - ANSWER-capital punishment
convictions
why did crime in general, but homicides in particular, increase in the 70s and 80s
then decline in the 90s? - ANSWER--there was a decrease in youth wages in the
70s and 80s
- the 90s was a period of economic growth and less unemployment
-there was a decline in property crime
-more popular use of crack cocaine in the 80s and declined in the 90s
what is the difference between jail and prison? - ANSWER-Jail is less than a year or
waiting to go to trial while prison is over a year (convicted)
how do wage rates and economic growth affect crime rates? - ANSWER--the less a
person earns or is less likely to find a job, the more likely they are to commit crime
- in low income countries, public officials are more frequently found misusing public
office for private gain
- as people age, they usually make more money so they have no reason to commit
crimes
- a need for money increases crime rates
- areas with greater poverty have more property crime
-wage gaps between racial groups
, - a strong economy allows for an increase in government revenue which can be used
to fund police, more police lead to less crime rates
what sort of policies might encourage students to stay in high school? - ANSWER-
increasing education increases human capital which increases earning potential
which means lower rates of crime
-education can increase patience and risk aversion
-those with HS education commit less crimes
-public education programs about the harms and dangers associated with crime and
drug use
why do you think some public education programs work to reduce drug use and
other do not? - ANSWER-- education and stigmatizing crime can deter young people
from participating which means the cost of crime is higher
-some programs don't provide long term effects ; they require longer term investment
-increased social cost or financial cost
-many of these programs are reductionist
what part of the expected utility of crime equation does the broken windows
argument influence? - ANSWER-the agents because there is an increase in police
what part of the expected utility of crime equation does the abortion argument
influence? - ANSWER-the principal because having an abortion or not has a direct
effect on whether an unwanted baby is born that will result in higher rates of crime
the choice to break the law is a function of - ANSWER-1. the cost of crime
2. the probability of arrest and conviction
3. return/benefit of a crime
prospect theory - ANSWER-people may have different reference points and
therefore different value functions/utility for a choice, and different attitudes toward
risk
when the number of criminals one interacts with increases, - ANSWER-social cost
decreases
policies that increase probability of apprehension/conviction include - ANSWER-1.
more police
2. better policing strategy
3. effective neighborhood associations
4. more judges
in order to reduce the probability of attaining benefits of crime - ANSWER-1. reduce
gang influence
2. modify gun control laws
to increase the cost of crime - ANSWER-1. relaxed gun control
2. capital punishment
3. increased sentencing
4. public education highlighting the harms and dangers of crime
CORRECT ANSWERS
punishment by the state - ANSWER-primary cost for one who is convicted of a crime
-includes fines, jail, prison, capital punishment
social costs - ANSWER-ostracism from a group/shame
- a more important deterrent than imprisonment
economic opportunity costs - ANSWER-what a person gives up in legitimate income
for the benefit associated with the crime
capital - ANSWER-a resource used in pursuit of an end
- the more of the resource one has, the better able one is to pursue the end
financial capital - ANSWER-money that can be used to improve products
social capital - ANSWER-social networks that have value
- some argue that social capital is crucial for economic growth
criminal capital - ANSWER-human or social capital that enhances a person's ability
to profit from illegal activity; criminal knowledge and skill set
opportunity cost of crime - ANSWER-smaller for those with smaller wage or those
that are unemployed
recidivism - ANSWER-repeat offending
- is supposed to decrease if they are able to attain legal employment
three strikes and you're out - ANSWER-type of tough on crime imprisonment
strategy
three strikes laws - ANSWER-requires judges to give a mandatory extended
sentence to anyone convicted of 3 serious offenses
- a signal that there is a high cost to crime
-take away judge's discretion
-not all crimes are equal
truth-in sentencing - ANSWER-type of tough on crime law
-requires a person serve at least 85% of their sentence (specifically violent offenses)
-they do reduce violent crime through deterrence
broken windows theory - ANSWER--a policing strategy aggressively targeting minor
offenses
,- argues that when police foot patrol increases, the amount of fear of a typical citizen
decreases and higher levels of public order
-advocates targeting minor offenses that can be used as signals that worse offenses
are okay
arguments against Broken Windows argument in NYC - ANSWER-1. other cities
experienced a drop in crime
2. abortion is the primary causal factor
3. more police contributed to the decline
endogeneity - ANSWER-a suggested cause may be the effect or caused by some
other variable
- if something is endogenous then it is not a cause
according to Levitt, more police - ANSWER-leads to a drop in homicide but not a
significant decline in property crimes
externalities - ANSWER-effects that are not directly intended
abortion and crime - ANSWER-- a positive externality with regard to crime
- abortions occur because of unwanted pregnancies, unwanted children are at a
higher risk of committing crime; therefore, abortion contributes to a reduction of
crime as seen in the 90s
capital punishment - ANSWER-a.k.a. death penalty
- supported by a majority of people
-has little effect on crime reduction
states in which judges are elected have more - ANSWER-capital punishment
convictions
why did crime in general, but homicides in particular, increase in the 70s and 80s
then decline in the 90s? - ANSWER--there was a decrease in youth wages in the
70s and 80s
- the 90s was a period of economic growth and less unemployment
-there was a decline in property crime
-more popular use of crack cocaine in the 80s and declined in the 90s
what is the difference between jail and prison? - ANSWER-Jail is less than a year or
waiting to go to trial while prison is over a year (convicted)
how do wage rates and economic growth affect crime rates? - ANSWER--the less a
person earns or is less likely to find a job, the more likely they are to commit crime
- in low income countries, public officials are more frequently found misusing public
office for private gain
- as people age, they usually make more money so they have no reason to commit
crimes
- a need for money increases crime rates
- areas with greater poverty have more property crime
-wage gaps between racial groups
, - a strong economy allows for an increase in government revenue which can be used
to fund police, more police lead to less crime rates
what sort of policies might encourage students to stay in high school? - ANSWER-
increasing education increases human capital which increases earning potential
which means lower rates of crime
-education can increase patience and risk aversion
-those with HS education commit less crimes
-public education programs about the harms and dangers associated with crime and
drug use
why do you think some public education programs work to reduce drug use and
other do not? - ANSWER-- education and stigmatizing crime can deter young people
from participating which means the cost of crime is higher
-some programs don't provide long term effects ; they require longer term investment
-increased social cost or financial cost
-many of these programs are reductionist
what part of the expected utility of crime equation does the broken windows
argument influence? - ANSWER-the agents because there is an increase in police
what part of the expected utility of crime equation does the abortion argument
influence? - ANSWER-the principal because having an abortion or not has a direct
effect on whether an unwanted baby is born that will result in higher rates of crime
the choice to break the law is a function of - ANSWER-1. the cost of crime
2. the probability of arrest and conviction
3. return/benefit of a crime
prospect theory - ANSWER-people may have different reference points and
therefore different value functions/utility for a choice, and different attitudes toward
risk
when the number of criminals one interacts with increases, - ANSWER-social cost
decreases
policies that increase probability of apprehension/conviction include - ANSWER-1.
more police
2. better policing strategy
3. effective neighborhood associations
4. more judges
in order to reduce the probability of attaining benefits of crime - ANSWER-1. reduce
gang influence
2. modify gun control laws
to increase the cost of crime - ANSWER-1. relaxed gun control
2. capital punishment
3. increased sentencing
4. public education highlighting the harms and dangers of crime
