This was just talked about on EconTalk, a great podcast. http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2012/12/pettit_on_the_p.html http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2012/12

This was just talked about on EconTalk, a great podcast. http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2012/12/pettit_on_the_p.html http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2012/12/pettit_on_the_p.htm... (link includes transcript if you don't like podcasts) Ironically, the researcher being interviewed is pretty negative on the whole situation, given that we are still a world leader in incarceration. It's a useful discussion even if you disagree with her, because I think she puts some useful data on the table.