|
on Law and Economics |
| By: | Koppensteiner, Martin (University of Surrey); Menezes, Livia (University of Birmingham) |
| Abstract: | We study the causal effect of maternal criminal victimization on child health using linked police reports and birth records from Brazil. Focusing on robbery and theft - everyday crimes not involving physical injury - we show that victimization during pregnancy increases low birthweight by 6.9 percentage points, with effects particularly pronounced among socioeconomically disadvantaged mothers. These effects are comparable in magnitude to those documented for physical assaults, indicating that stress and economic disruption alone adversely affect fetal development. We also document persistent effects, including elevated hospitalization and ICU admission rates in early childhood, pointing to significant intergenerational costs. |
| Keywords: | victimization, crime, birth outcomes, health investments |
| JEL: | I12 J13 K42 O12 |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18413 |
| By: | Filippo Pavanello; Guglielmo Zappalà |
| Abstract: | Higher temperatures can increase substance abuse and exacerbate its physiological effects on the human body, raising the risk of violent behavior. Using administrative crime records and daily temperatures in the United States between 1991 and 2023, we show that two public policies regulating substance abuse — the expansion of substance abuse treatment facilities and the reformulation of the prescription opioid OxyContin — substantially moderate the impact of temperature on interpersonal violent crime. We monetize the policy benefits for intimate partner violence, the most widespread crime in the United States, and show that substance abuse regulations can be a cost-effective tool for climate adaptation. |
| Keywords: | adaptation, public health, substance abuse regulation, temperature, violent crime |
| JEL: | I18 J16 K32 K42 Q51 Q54 |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_12514 |
| By: | Ursula Berresheim; Rafael Machado Parente; Samuel Pienknagura |
| Abstract: | Crime shocks are frequent and disruptive, often heightening public concerns about violence and personal safety. Yet little is known about their potential long-term economic implications. This paper studies how historical exposure to crime shapes current perceptions of crime, and how these individual perceptions in turn affect the macroeconomic impacts of new crime shocks. Using cross-country survey data matched with historical crime records, we find that individuals historically exposed to high-crime years are more likely to prioritize fighting crime over other societal goals, such as maintaining a stable economy. This historical link is particularly strong among older and richer individuals, and among parents. A stronger fiscal position, which presumably enhances a country's ability to devote resources to fight crime, helps mitigate the persistence of crime exposure. At the aggregate level, countries where crime concerns are more entrenched experience larger GDP declines in the aftermath of high-crime years, driven mainly by lower consumption, capital accumulation, and productivity, rather than changes in employment. |
| Keywords: | Crime perceptions; lived experiences; macroeconomic costs of crime |
| Date: | 2026–03–06 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2026/039 |
| By: | Costa Filho, João Ricardo |
| Abstract: | What was the impact of the Marco Civil da Internet (MCI), Brazil's Digital Bill of Rights enacted in 2014, on the landscape of tech-related lawsuits in the country? Utilizing a synthetic control methodology, we construct a counterfactual scenario to estimate the number of lawsuits that would have occurred in the absence of the MCI. Our findings indicate a statistically significant decrease in the judicialization of internet-related disputes following the law's implementation. This suggests that while the MCI aimed to establish a robust legal framework for internet governance, it concurrently fostered a lesser litigious environment, particularly concerning intermediary liability and content moderation. |
| Keywords: | Brazilian Digital Bill of Rights; Marco Civil da Internet; Synthetic Control |
| JEL: | K19 K20 |
| Date: | 2026–01–19 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:127781 |
| By: | Rivero III, Roberto; Atilano, Lesley Ann; Moreno, Frede |
| Abstract: | This study examines university-based legal clinics in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines, as engines of access to justice and experiential legal education. It compares clinical legal education models at six institutions—Andres Bonifacio Colleges, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, J.H. Cerilles State College, Jose Rizal Memorial State University, Saint Columban College, and Western Mindanao State University—between 2019 and 2024. Using publicly available data, CLEP directories, and institutional sources, the study analyzes clinic structures, student engagement, service delivery, and community impact. Findings reveal variability in documentation, program implementation, and outreach. Clinics at ABC, AdZU, and WMSU demonstrate structured engagement through client consultations, legal drafting, and community education aligned with CLEP requirements. Less documented clinics show limited visibility and service tracking, highlighting gaps in reporting and institutional support. Student involvement ranges from 8 to 40 participants per clinic, with weekly engagement between two and seven hours, contributing to practical legal competencies. Case output trends indicate incremental increases, with WMSU recording the highest volume of client services. The study concludes that university clinics enhance access to justice, strengthen experiential learning, and support marginalized communities, while emphasizing the need for standardized reporting, resource allocation, and regional collaboration. Policy and institutional strategies can optimize clinic outputs and ensure sustainable CLEP implementation in the region. |
| Keywords: | clinical legal education, access to justice, experiential learning, Philippines, legal clinics, CLEP |
| JEL: | I0 I00 I2 I20 I21 I26 I28 I29 K00 K10 K19 K20 K23 K29 K3 K30 K39 K40 K49 |
| Date: | 2026–01–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:127615 |
| By: | Luca Bellodi; Massimo Morelli; Jörg L. Spenkuch; Edoardo Teso; Matia Vannoni; Guo Xu |
| Abstract: | We combine comprehensive data on the rulemaking activities of the U.S. federal government with individual-level personnel and voter registration records to study delegation and principal-agent frictions in the development of new regulations. We present three main results. First, even important pieces of new regulation are frequently delegated to career bureaucrats who are politically misaligned with the president. Second, rules that are overseen by misaligned regulators take systematically longer to complete, are more verbose, generate more negative feedback from the public, and are more likely to be challenged in court. Third, in assigning regulators to rules, agency leaders often face a sharp trade-off between political alignment and expertise. Agency frictions notwithstanding, they tend to resolve this trade-off in favor of expertise. |
| JEL: | D73 H1 K2 L5 M5 P0 |
| Date: | 2026–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34932 |
| By: | Andlib, Zubaria |
| Abstract: | This study examines mental health outcomes among incarcerated adults using primary survey data in a developing country correctional system. Using validated mental health scales for depression, anxiety, and well-being, the study documents a high prevalence of psychological distress among incarcerated individuals. The empirical findings show that perceived overcrowding, exposure to violence, and social isolation are strongly associated with worse mental health outcomes, while regular family contact is associated with reduced psychological distress. These relationships persist after controlling for demographic characteristics and prison fixed effects. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that pre-trial detainees and long-term inmates are particularly vulnerable to institutional stressors. The findings highlight the role of prison environments as determinants of psychological well-being. In LMICs where mental health infrastructure is limited, prisons serve as critical components of public health systems. The results suggest that low-cost screening programs, violence reduction strategies, and policies that reduce overcrowding and facilitate family contact may generate meaningful improvements in inmate well-being. By providing systematic survey-based evidence from a developing economy context, the study contributes to the global literature on incarceration and health and informs policy debates on correctional reform and public health investment. |
| Keywords: | Mental health, Incarceration, Family contact, LMICs, Correctional institutions |
| JEL: | I12 I18 K14 J15 |
| Date: | 2026 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1721 |