Scholarly Comments on Academic Economics

The Diluted Economics of Casinos and Crime: A Rejoinder to Grinols and Mustard’s Reply

by

*Douglas M. Walker* is an associate professor of economics at the College of Charleston, in Charleston, SC. He received his Ph.D. in economics from Auburn University in 1998. Prior to coming to the College of Charleston, he taught at Auburn, Louisiana Sta

Abstract

In their reply to my comment (Walker 2008) Grinols and Mustard explained that in their original study (2006) their interest was “in the costs to the host county associated with a change in crime from whatever source” (Grinols and Mustard 2008, p. 22). In this rejoinder, I explain that the estimated costs of crime attributable to casinos will be overstated if the estimated crime effects are based on the “undiluted” crime rate used by Grinols and Mustard (2006). I also discuss why this issue is important, in the context of “social cost of casino gambling” estimates that are frequently quoted in political debate and by the media.

in

Download this article

Volume (Issue)
Pages
148-155
Published
JEL classification
L83
Keywords
casinos, crime
Downloads
2732 article downloads
3743 complete issue downloads
Total: 6475

Discuss this article!