Evolution of the Relationship Between Incarceration and the Labor Market in the United States, 1945-2016

Cantekin K., Elgin C., Elveren A. Y.

Journal of Social, Political, and Economic Studies, cilt.47, sa.1-2, ss.114-137, 2022 (Scopus) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 47 Sayı: 1-2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Social, Political, and Economic Studies
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.114-137
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: incarceration, inequality, labor market, real wage, U.S. economy, unemployment
  • Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

© 2022, Council for Social and Economic Studies. All rights reserved.This paper examines the relationship between the incarceration rate and several major labor market variables in the U.S. for 1960-2016. Our analysis shows that a high crime rate precedes high punishment intensity. In turn, high punishment intensity is followed by a reduction in the crime rate. Our analysis also reveals that the 10th percentile wage rate is highly correlated with the incarceration rate whereas unemployment length and rate have inconsistent effects. That is, the incarceration rate rises as unemployment falls yet remains stable when unemployment length and rate rise. Finally, inequality has a surprisingly high correlation with the incarceration rate.