Conscription and crime
By: Sebastian Galiani, Martín Rossi, and Ernesto Schargrodsky.
Contributors: Rossi, Martín A.; Schargrodsky, Ernesto.; World Bank. Office of the Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, Development Economics.
Series: Policy research working paper -- 4037; Policy research working papers -- 4037.
Publisher: World Bank, Development Economics, Office of the Senior Vice President and Chief Economist
Published: 2006
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 18
Subjects: Crime -- Argentina -- Econometric models.; Draft -- Argentina -- Econometric models.; Draft -- Social aspects -- Argentina.
Other titles: Background paper to the 2007 World development report
Description: The initiation in criminal activities is, typically, a young phenomenon. The study of the determinants of entry into criminal activities should pay attention to major events affecting youth. In many countries, one of these important events is mandatory participation in military service. The objective of this study is to estimate the causal relationship between mandatory participation in military service and crime. The authors exploit the random assignment through a draft lottery of young men to conscription in Argentina to identify this causal effect. Their results suggest that participation in military service increased the likelihood of developing a criminal record in adulthood (in particular, for property and weapon-related crimes).
Notes: "October 2006"--Cover.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 11-12).

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