Thinking, Fast and Slow? Some Field Experiments to Reduce Crime and Dropout in Chicago.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral economics
• Criminology
• Educational psychology

Background:

• Economically disadvantaged youth face significant challenges, including high crime rates and school dropout.
• Interventions aimed at altering decision-making processes are crucial for addressing these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Becoming a Man (BAM) program and a related intervention in reducing crime and improving educational outcomes.
• To assess the cost-benefit ratios of these youth interventions.

Main Methods:

• Three large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted in Chicago.
• The studies involved economically disadvantaged youth, including those in the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC).
• Data were collected on arrests, school engagement, graduation rates, and readmission rates.

Main Results:

• Participation in the BAM program reduced total arrests by 28-35% and violent-crime arrests by 45-50%.
• The program increased graduation rates by 12-19% and improved school engagement.
• A related intervention in JTDC reduced facility readmission rates by 21%.

Conclusions:

• The BAM program and related interventions demonstrate significant positive impacts on youth behavior and educational attainment.
• These programs offer substantial benefit-cost ratios, ranging from 5-to-1 to over 30-to-1.
• The mechanisms appear to involve promoting reflective decision-making rather than solely improving social skills or self-control.