Objective:
In this paper, the authors used data on state-specific community mental health expenditures, state-specific demographic characteristics, and state-specific rates of violent crime for the period 2005 to 2013. Findings show a 10% increase in community-directed state mental health agency expenditures yielded nearly a 4% reduction in violent crime rates. Violent crime rates were associated with the presence of gun control regulations and increases in the proportion of the population completing secondary education.
Method:
Using state mental health agency data, we construct a panel of U.S. states over nine years and apply an instrumental variables empirical model with state and time fixed effects to adjust for policy endogeneity, omitted variable bias, and time trends.
Project Status:
Completed
Principal Investigator (PI):
John S. Palatucci, PhD, Alan C. Monheit, PhD