ECON373
The Economics of Crime, Punishment, and Rehabilitation
Economics
BC
Subject code
ECON
Course Number
373
Department(s)
Instructor(s)
J. Kurzfeld
Course Long Title
The Economics of Crime, Punishment, and Rehabilitation
Description
This seminar explores a rational choice basis for understanding criminal behavior. Rather than framing the behavior of individuals involved in crime as fundamentally different from our own, students consider how environmental, economic, and legal constraints and incentives lead to criminal activity that is individually rational. Students examine empirical evidence of the effectiveness of justice reforms and use it to further understand the role of rational choice in criminal behavior, along with its limitations. Students also engage in community partnerships to directly observe the legal environment and better connect theoretical applications to the institutional and cultural setting. Prerequisite(s): ECON 255 and 260.
Modes of Inquiry
Analysis and Critique [AC], Quantitative and Formal Reasoning [QF]
Writing Credit
No writing credit
Class Restriction
Exclude First Years