Reducing Crime and Violence : Experimental Evidence on Adult Noncognitive Investments in Liberia

Blattman, Christopher ; Jamison, Julian C. ; Sheridan, Margaret

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: SKILLS;    WASTE;    INFERENCE;    RISKS;    TREATMENT;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-7648
RP-ID  :  WPS7648

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

The paper shows that self-control, timepreferences, and values are malleable in adults, and thatinvestments in these skills and preferences reduce crime andviolence. The authors recruited criminally-engaged Liberianmen and randomized half to eight weeks of group cognitivebehavioral therapy, fostering self-regulation, patience, andnoncriminal values. They also randomized $200 grants. Cashalone and therapy alone dramatically reduced crime andviolence, but effects dissipated within a year. When cashfollowed therapy, however, crime and violence decreased byas much as 50 percent for at least a year. They hypothesizethat cash reinforced therapy's lessons by prolongingpractice and self-investment.