an economist might suggest that one way to reduce crime is to
A)increase police spending
B)decrease the net marginal benefit of crime
C)higher more judges
D)build more prisons

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An economist might suggest decreasing the net marginal benefit of crime by increasing the potential costs of committing a crime (such as increasing the likelihood of getting caught and punished) or decreasing the potential benefits of committing a crime (such as reducing the profitability of certain criminal activities or increasing the economic opportunities available to potential criminals). This approach aligns with the economic principle of incentives, which states that people respond to changes in costs and benefits. A or C might reduce crime, but they are not the most effective strategy for reducing crime. Building more prisons (option D) can be costly and potentially counterproductive if the focus is solely on incarceration rather than addressing the root causes of crime.

An Economist Might Suggest That One Way to Reduce Crime