Freakonomics is at the heart of everything we see and do and the subjects that bedevil us daily. If either assumption 1 or 2 is true, then the crack epidemic can explain some of the rise and fall in crime in the 80s and 90s. This idea was further popularized by its inclusion in the book freakonomics, which levitt cowrote. Malcolm gladwell that crime declined earlier in states that legalized abortion. Levitt expands on the crime and abortion correlation previously discussed in the books introduction. Two economists questioned the assertion in the book freakonomics that the legalization of abortion was linked to a drop in crime.
I recently finished reading a christmas present, freakonomics by steven levitt and stephen dubner, a book most folks probably read a while ago but hey, i read a book and i have a 1yearold, so cut me some slack. If youve ever read freakonomics, the namesake book of this show, you may recall this controversial link between legalized abortion and the. They followed the children of 188 women who were denied abortions. Levitt takes you through his research on the relationship between dropping crime and the legalization of abortion.
Daily chart greater access to abortion may have reduced. The effect of legalized abortion on crime also the donohuelevitt hypothesis is a hypothesized controversial reduction in crime in the decades following the legalization of abortion, as a result of fewer children at the highest risk of committing crime being born due to the availability of the procedure. Crime began to fall roughly 18 years after abortion legalization. Video in the video player on the left, youll find part 2 of levitts discussion of the research behind the abortion crime link. Daily chart greater access to abortion may have reduced americas crime rate.
In 1994, when the crime rate started to drop, a child born in 1973 was 21 and a child who wasnt born in 1973, because the. We offer evidence that legalized abortion has contributed significantly to recent crime reductions. Freakonomics, market populism and that abortionandcrime theory. In 2005 freakonomics popularised the abortionandcrime theory. The abortion cuts crime hypothesis never did much to inform the. The question about abortion and crime was greatly influenced by a swedish study published in 1966 by hans forssman and inga thuwe. Levitt, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. What levitt and his coauthor claimed, specifically, was. Levitt study and used it as justification for promoting. Freakonomics abortion research is faulted by a pair of economists. The book basically explores interesting questions that defy conventional wisdom which isnt as wise as you might think. Wade to a massive crime drop is back in the spotlight as several states introduce abortion restrictions. Freakonomics a rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything. Freakonomics chapter 4 summary and analysis gradesaver.
If youve ever read freakonomics, the namesake book of this show, you may recall this controversial link between legalized abortion and the fall of crime. Freakonomics study guide contains a biography of steven d. Levitt went on to coauthor the 2005 bestseller freakonomics, in which he reiterated his thesis that the legalization of abortion is responsible for half of the recent drop in violent crime. Freakonomics is the 2005 book that university of chicago economist.
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