Title

Crime and Circumstance: The Effects of Infant Health Shocks on Fathers' Criminal Activity

Author(s)

Hope Corman Hope Corman (Rider University and National Bureau of Economic Research)

Kelly Noonan Kelly Noonan (Rider University and National Bureau of Economic Research)

Nancy E. Reichman Nancy Reichman (Robert Wood Johnson Medical School)

Ofira Schwartz-Soicher Ofira Schwartz-Soicher (Robert Wood Johnson Medical School)

Abstract

Few studies in the economics literature have linked individuals? criminal behavior to changes in their personal circumstances. Life shocks, such as natural or personal disasters, could reduce or sever a person's connections to his/her family, job, or community. With fewer connections, crime may become a more attractive option. This study addresses the question of whether an exogenous shock in life circumstances affects criminal activity. Specifically, we estimate the effects of the birth of a child with a random and serious health problem (versus the birth of a healthy infant) on the likelihood that the child's father becomes or remains involved in illegal activities. Controlling for the father's pre-birth criminal activity, we find that the shock of having a child with a serious health problem increases both the father's post-birth conviction and incarceration by 1 to 8 percentage points, depending on the measure of infant health used.

Creation Date

2006-12

Section URL ID

CRCW

Paper Number

WP06-35-FF.pdf

URL

https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w12754/w12754.pdf

File Function

Jel

K42

Keyword(s)

Suppress

false

Series

8