Institutions and incarceration: The role of economic freedom at the MSA level

In: Social science quarterly, Volume 104, Issue 4, p. 436-463

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveWe evaluate the relationship between economic freedom and incarceration at the U.S. metropolitan statistical area level.MethodWe use economic freedom data at the metropolitan statistical area unit and local incarceration data from the Vera Institute in 5‐year intervals from 1977 through 2017.ResultsOur evidence suggests that greater economic freedom is associated with lower rates of incarceration in jails for the overall population. The channel tends to be through both the first and second economic freedom components ("size of government" and "taxation," respectively). Finally, the results for juvenile incarcerated populations are largely driven by labor market freedoms.ConclusionTo the extent that reducing incarceration rates continue to be viewed as a positive outcome in line with recent trends, this study suggests that promoting laws and policies aimed at enhancing economic freedom could be an avenue to advancing that goal. For proponents, this policy implication has the rare advantage of bipartisan appeal.