Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/114067 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 9201
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This study is the first to comprehensively examine the effect of state anti-bullying laws (ABLs) on youth violence. Using data from a variety of sources – including the Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, Uniform Crime Reports, and newly collected data on school shootings – we find that the enforcement of strict, comprehensive school district anti-bullying policies is associated with a 7 to 13 percent reduction in school violence and an 8 to 12 percent reduction in bullying. Our results also show that anti-bullying policy mandates are associated with a reduction in minor teen school shooting deaths and violent crime arrests. A causal interpretation of our results is supported by falsification tests on older young adults for whom ABLs do not bind.
Subjects: 
bullying
youth violence
anti-bullying laws
school shootings
JEL: 
I28
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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