After the Epidemic: Recent Trends in Youth Violence in the United States

52 Pages Posted: 25 Oct 2001 Last revised: 1 Mar 2024

See all articles by Philip J. Cook

Philip J. Cook

Duke University - Sanford School of Public Policy; Duke University, Dept. of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

John H. Laub

University of Maryland

Date Written: October 2001

Abstract

The epidemic of youth violence in the United States peaked in 1993 and has been followed by a rapid, sustained drop. In parallel with our earlier treatment (Cook and Laub 1998), we assess two types of explanation for this drop -- those that focus on 'cohort' effects (including the effects of abortion legalization) and those that focus on 'period' effects (including the effects of the changing crack-cocaine trade). Once again we are able to reject the cohort-type explanations, yet also find contradictions with an account based on the dynamics of crack markets. The 'way out' of this epidemic has not been the same as the 'way in.' The relative importance in homicide of youths, racial minorities, and guns, all of which increased greatly during the epidemic, has remained high during the drop. Arrest patterns tell a somewhat different story, in part because of changing police practice with respect to aggravated assault. Finally, we demonstrate that the rise and fall of youth violence has been narrowly confined with respect to race, sex, and age, but not geography. Given the volatility in the rates of juvenile violence, forecasting rates is a risky business indeed. Effectively narrowing the range of plausible explanations for the recent ups and downs may require a long time horizon, consideration of a broader array of problem behaviors, and comparisons with trends in other countries.

Suggested Citation

Cook, Philip J. and Laub, John H., After the Epidemic: Recent Trends in Youth Violence in the United States (October 2001). NBER Working Paper No. w8571, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=288484

Philip J. Cook (Contact Author)

Duke University - Sanford School of Public Policy ( email )

Sanford School of Public Policy
Box 90312
Durham, NC 27708-0239
United States
919-260-4338 (Phone)
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Duke University, Dept. of Economics

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Box 90097
Durham, NC 27708-0204
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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John H. Laub

University of Maryland ( email )

College Park
College Park, MD 20742
United States

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