LEARNING BY CRIMING AND LEARNING BY POLICING - WHO LEARNS MORE

This paper theoretically analyzes and empirically tests the learning by doing of both criminals and police. Both are hypothesized to learn from their accumulated experience. The more crimes committed by criminals, the more knowledgeable and skillful they become, and more crime is executed. Thus, over time the level of crime is expected to rise. Police also learn from their accumulated experience. Past police performance affects productivity and reduces apprehension costs. The monetary gains of the community from police learning are far in excess of the monetary gains to criminals from their learning. Formal well organized learning channels which are an integral part of police activities are more effective than the informal and sporadic learning channels of criminals.