3 ms·

If it's a rational crime, punishing it would lower the incidence rate?

• eru 3y ago
  Depends on people's time horizon / discounting rate?
• TaylorAlexander 3y ago
  There is a humanity aspect to things. Sure maybe if you make the crime 10 years in prison the infraction rates will go way down, but also you are using the state to enact very harsh sentences on vulnerable people, which is inhumane, and moreover you are spending loads of money locking people up to solve a crime which arguably is harmless. You could as an alternative build supportive/subsidized housing so that the people sleeping on benches can get a real bed, and provide medical and mental health services and job training. In this case instead of spending all your money on buildings to house these people which take away their rights (prisons) you spend the money on supportive services which help the people get on their feet. You are still spending money, but one solves the root problem and the other solves only one specific crime.