These findings indicate that cognitive behavioral therapy can be combined with vestibular rehabilitation in the treatment of dizziness.
One of the most basic predictions of almost any model of crime is that individual time preferences matter. However, empirical evidence on this fundamental property is essentially nonexistent. To our knowledge, this paper provides the first pieces of evidence on the link between time discounting and crime. We use a unique dataset that combines a survey-based measure of time discount rates (at age 13) with detailed longitudinal register data on criminal behavior spanning over 18 y. Our results show that individuals with short time horizons have a significantly higher risk of criminal involvement later in life. The magnitude of the relationship is substantial and corresponds to roughly one-third of the association between intelligence and crime.time discounting | intertemporal choice | crime O ne of the most basic predictions of almost any model of crime is that individual time preferences matter (see, e.g., ref. 1). The reason is that individuals may differ in the way they balance the rewards of a crime that are savored immediately and its potential costs in terms of apprehension and punishment that are borne in the future. As noted by Wilson and Herrnstein, because "the rewards of crime usually precede the costs of crime [...] time discounting becomes extremely important in explaining criminal behavior" (2). However, empirical evidence on this fundamental property is essentially nonexistent.In this paper, we empirically investigate whether individual time discounting predicts subsequent criminal involvement. Our investigation requires unusually rich data. Ideally, time discount rates should be measured before individuals start getting involved in criminal activity to ease complications due to reverse causation. It is further necessary to link this information to credible indicators of criminal involvement and to follow the individuals for a period that stretches well beyond the peak of the age-crime profile. These restrictions effectively rule out any recently constructed dataset.Our data originate from a Swedish longitudinal dataset that contains information on children's time discount rates collected from a survey held in the year 1966 when the children were 13 y of age. The respondents' answers have been linked to administrative registers, which enables us to follow the 13,606 children who participated in the survey for a period of 18 y. Time discounting is measured through a question in which the children were asked to rate the extent to which they prefer: Swedish Krona (SEK) 900 [US dollar (USD) 140] today over SEK 9,000 (USD 1,400) in 5 y using a five-point scale (in 2013 year's price level). Our measures of crime originate from two sources: (i) interventions by social authorities due to delinquent behavior of children up to age 18; (ii) the universe of criminal convictions for all individuals between ages 15 and 31. Besides details about the type of crime, there is information on crime both at the extensive and intensive margins.For several reasons, the dataset is ideal for our purposes. First, the survey ...
Time Preferences and Criminal BehaviorOne main motive behind lengthy prison terms for serious crime is to deter potential offenders from engaging in crime. Yet, economic theory predicts that the scope for punishment as acting as a deterrent depends on how much individuals discount future events when balancing the immediate utility of the crime and the costs of a potential future punishment. If criminals have short time horizons, then it is hard to imagine punishment acting as a key deterrent. This paper provides the first empirical investigation of the link between time preferences and criminal behavior. Our study is made possible by access to a unique Swedish longitudinal dataset that links individual measures of time preferences collected at age 13 to various crime indicators from administrative registers spanning over 18 years. Our results show that high discount rates significantly predict criminal involvement. The magnitude of the relationship is substantial and corresponds to roughly one third of the association between intelligence and crime. Although high discount rates significantly predict the onset of criminal involvement, it is less strongly correlated with crime at the intensive margin. The link is more pronounced for property crime and among males with low intelligence. We also find that part of the association can be explained by high discount rates being associated with lower human capital accumulation.
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