Criminal Dilemmas: Understanding and Preventing Crime

✍ Scribed by Katri K. Sieberg (auth.)

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 213
• Series: Studies in Economic Theory 12
• Edition: 2
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Fighting crime breeds emotional responses which often lead to counter-productive government policy. To allow a rational analysis of these important concerns, this book employs the thinking of economics, political science, and game theory to develop new perspectives on crime and its causes. A basic assumption is that the criminal is a rational actor who makes decisions based on his or her personal expected gains and costs. By using this assumption, predictions about behaviour as well as emotional concerns such as prostitution and gun control are given a theoretical perspective. By understanding the strategic variables which cause, for example, gang wars and drug sales, we are better equipped to design effective public policy.

In the new edition, a chapter on police corruption has been added. The Gangs chapter has been updated and focuses more on evaluating competing hypotheses about gang organization and activity.

✦ Table of Contents

Alternative Sentencing....Pages 1-33
Private Prisons....Pages 35-47
Prostitution....Pages 49-74
Drugs....Pages 75-107
Gangs....Pages 109-129
Gun Control....Pages 131-169
Police....Pages 171-180

✦ Subjects

Criminology & Criminal Justice; Economic Theory; Criminal Law