What's the best explanation for why immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than native-born Americans?
https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aeri.20230459
https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aeri.20230459
Comments
1) It's a huge bother to come to the US, don't want to screw it up (deportation risk)
2) It's a huge bother to come to the US, selects for people that are driven and higher-functioning
3) More likely to be caught/persecuted for crime because law and populace are unsympathetic
1. Methodology in the study seems bad, but in fairness it’s hard to calculate (e.g. excluding areas with ICE detention centers)
2. > 70% of incarcerated people go back to jail, but immigrants are deported and don’t get the chance to be repeat offenders