Conscription and Crime: Evidence from the Argentine Draft Lottery

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Galiani, Sebastian; Rossi, Martin A.; Schargrodsky, Ernesto
• 署名单位: Washington University (WUSTL); Universidad de San Andres Argentina; Universidad Torcuato Di Tella
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.3.2.119
• 发表日期: 2011
• 页码: 119-136
• 关键词: military service; vietnam-era; veterans; youth; BEHAVIOR; violent; men

摘要

We estimate the causal effect of mandatory participation in military service on individuals' subsequent involvement in criminal activities. To identify this causal effect, we exploit the random assignment of young men to conscription in Argentina through a draft lottery. Using a dataset that includes draft eligibility, participation in military service, and criminal records, we find that conscription increases the likelihood of developing a criminal record. The effects are significant not only for cohorts that provided military service during wartime, but also for those that served during peacetime. Our results do not support the introduction of conscription for anti-crime purposes. JEL (H56, K42, O17)