The Death Penalty: No Evidence for Deterrence

John Donohue, Yale University
Justin J. Wolfers, The Wharton School- U.Penn, CEPR, IZA & NBER

Summary

John Donohue and Justin Wolfers argue that Gary Becker and Richard Posner are wrong to think that the death penalty deters murder: they find little empirical support for the claim. If anything, when one looks over the longest period possible (1934-2000) there is more evidence that the death penalty stimulates murder than that it deters murder.

Recommended Citation

Donohue, John and Wolfers, Justin J. (2006) "The Death Penalty: No Evidence for Deterrence," The Economists' Voice: Vol. 3 : Iss. 5, Article 3.
DOI: 10.2202/1553-3832.1170
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/ev/vol3/iss5/art3

 
 
 
 

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