ECON 239 - The Economics of Crime and Punishment

Credits: 3
Planned Offering: Offered when interest is expressed and departmental resources permit

Prerequisite: ECON 101. This course explores topics of crime and criminal justice in the United States from an economic perspective. Using both theoretical and empirical methodologies, the decisions of criminals (and would-be criminals) are examined, along with markets for criminal behavior and the goods and services produced within them, and public policies aimed at dealing with crime. Sample topics include: Does crime pay? Does the government regulate crime too much or too little? Does prison “harden” criminals or rehabilitate them? Why does the U.S. imprison more people per capita than any other country? An emphasis of the course is to explore myths and realities regarding the relationships between poverty and crime. Staff.