Economics of Gun Violence

This course examines evidence from the recent empirical economics literature on the determinants and impacts of gun violence in the U.S. Topics studied include the effects of various gun policies, gun prevalence, and mass shootings on outcomes such as gun-related injuries and deaths, violent crime, mental health, and gun sales, as well as other idiosyncratic determinants of gun demand. Course content consists entirely of published journal articles that utilize econometric methods taught in Econ 204. Students will demonstrate their ability to understand and interpret applied research in this area through evaluative summaries delivered via group presentations and written assessments along with several exams. Paired with ECON 658. Prerequisite: Economics 204D or Economics 208D.