Labor Surplus and Punishment: A Review and Assessment of Theory and Evidence

Race, economy and punishment: inequity and racial disparity in imprisonment, 1972–2002

“…A major objective of their research was to assess the conditions under which the relationship is most often positive and significant. Chiricos and Delone (1992) found that relationships between unemployment and incarceration without controlling for crime were positive and significant more often than those that controlled for crime. Although labor surplus has an indirect impact on punishment, the authors found that there is also a direct, substantial labor surplus/punishment link that is independent of crime rates.…”

“…Although labor surplus has an indirect impact on punishment, the authors found that there is also a direct, substantial labor surplus/punishment link that is independent of crime rates. Moreover, the relationship is slightly stronger when race-specific measures are used (Chiricos & Delone, 1992).…”

“…In addition, the study demonstrated that the relationship between unemployment and imprisonment was direct, independent of the changes in criminal activity. Jankovic found that a rise in unemployment led to increased prison commitments and that a policy of deterrence dictates intensification of punishment in order to combat increased temptation to commit crime (Chiricos & Delone, 1992;Jankovic, 1977). Many researchers have since investigated the Rusche-Kirchheimer hypothesis with aggregate data to see if there is a positive relationship between unemployment and imprisonment rates; however, a number of these studies have yielded inconsistent results.…”

“…Many researchers have since investigated the Rusche-Kirchheimer hypothesis with aggregate data to see if there is a positive relationship between unemployment and imprisonment rates; however, a number of these studies have yielded inconsistent results. Research on the relationship between labor surplus and punishment have, at one extreme, concluded that such a relationship is limited, at best, and at the other extreme, have found a direct relationship between unemployment rates and imprisonment rates, crime rates being constant (Chiricos & Delone, 1992;Inverarity & Grattet, 1989).…”

“…In an effort to provide an overview of research in this area, Chiricos and Delone (1992) conducted a meta-analysis of 44 examinations of the relationship between unemployment and punishment. Although there were three different measures of punishment and varying levels of aggregation, they found overwhelming support for the Rusche and Kirchheimer thesis.…”