Focusing on deterrence under the Becker model of crime, which of the following statements is false?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To analyze deterrence under the Becker framework, we compare the expected utility of committing a crime with the utility of not offending. 
Option 1: 'Increasing the fine will help deter crime.' In Becker’s model, a higher penalty raises the cost of crime, reducing its expected utility and making crime less attractive, so this statement is consistent with deterrence.
Option 2: 'Increasing the probability of getting caught will help deter crime.' A higher arrest probability increases the likelihood of punishment, which lowers the expected utility of crime and promotes deterrence, making this option true.
Option 3: 'Crime is always deterred when expected utility is equal to current utility.' Here, equality of expected utility means the individual is indifferent between crime and non-crime, not that crime is necessarily deterred. The person could still commit crime since neither option is strictly worse or better; deterrence is not guaranteed by mere equality. This makes the statement false within the standard Becker framework.
Option 4: 'Crime is always deterred when expected utility is less than current utility.' If the expected utility of crime is strictly less than the utility of not committing crime, the rational choice is not to commit crime, so deterrence holds in this case; this statement is true.
In summary, the false claim is the third option, which incorrectly asserts that equal expected utilities ensure deterrence, whereas indifference implies no strict incentive to abstain from crime.

SP25 G202 Kreft & Mafi-Kreft Self-Test Quiz 4

Focusing on deterrence under the Becker model of crime, which of the following statements is false?

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