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THE REHABILITATION EFFECT OF PUNISHMENT
Author(s) -
MYERS SAMUEL L.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
economic inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1465-7295
pISSN - 0095-2583
DOI - 10.1111/j.1465-7295.1980.tb00583.x
Subject(s) - punishment (psychology) , sample (material) , rehabilitation , economics , criminology , psychology , social psychology , chemistry , chromatography , neuroscience
The putatively beneficial effect of punishment on criminal offenders is examined by estimating a logistic specification of a two‐period model of optimal participation in illegitimate and legitimate activities. Estimates are obtained utilizing a sample of parolees released from all adult correctional institutions in the United States during 1972. The conclusion would seem to be that incarceration is not substantially effective in rehabilitation efforts and may even have a result opposite to that intended: increased punishment may increase optimal participation in crime.