Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/93317 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 7894
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We explore the individual and joint explanatory power of concepts from economics, psychology, and criminology for criminal behavior. More precisely, we consider risk and time preferences, personality traits from psychology (Big Five and locus of control), and a self-control scale from criminology. We find that economic preferences, personality traits, and self-control complement each other in predicting criminal behavior. The most significant predictors stem from all three disciplines: risk aversion, conscientiousness, and high self-control make criminal behavior less likely. Our results illustrate that integrating concepts from various disciplines enhances our understanding of individual behavior.
Subjects: 
crime
risk preferences
time preferences
personality traits
self-control
experiment
JEL: 
K42
D03
D81
D90
C21
C91
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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