The Walmart Effect: Testing Private Interventions to Reduce Gun Suicide

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (S4) ◽  
pp. 74-82
Author(s):  
Ian Ayres ◽  
Zachary Shelley ◽  
Fredrick E. Vars
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Homicide Rate ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Corporate Decisions ◽  
Measured Effect ◽  
The Impact

This article tests the impact of Walmart's corporate decisions to end the sale of handguns at its stores in 1994 and to discontinue the sale of all firearms at approximately 59% of its stores in 2006 before resuming firearms sales at some of those stores in 2011. Using a difference-in-differences framework, we find that that from 1994 to 2005 counties with Walmarts robustly experienced a reduction in the suicide rate and experienced no change in the homicide rate. These models suggest that Walmart's policy change caused a 3.3 to 7.5% reduction in the suicide rate within affected counties, which represents an estimated 5,104 to 11,970 lives saved over the studied period (425-998 per year). In contrast, Walmart's 2006 and 2011 decisions to discontinue and subsequently resume the sale of rifles and shotguns in many of its stores was not associated with a robustly measured effect on homicide or suicide rates. We do find evidence that Walmart's 2006 decision to reduce the number of its stores that sold firearms caused a statistically significant reduction in the suicide rate for counties in which Walmart did not subsequently resume firearms sales.

Assessing the Impact of Public Policy on Homicide Rates in Brazil: The Case of PRONASCI Program

2021 ◽  
pp. 073401682110390
Author(s):  
Talita Egevardt de Castro ◽  
Marcelo Justus ◽  
Ana Lúcia Kassouf
Keyword(s):  
Spillover Effects ◽  
Homicide Rate ◽  
Public Security ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Homicide Rates ◽  
Metropolitan Regions ◽  
Program Complexity ◽  
Urban Territories ◽  
The Impact

The current study evaluates the impact of the National Public Security with Citizenship Program (PRONASCI) on the homicide rate in Brazilian municipalities. PRONASCI program was implemented in Brazilian metropolitan regions and urban territories with high violent crime rates in 2007. In this study, we have applied a spatial difference-in-differences model with matching approaches. Municipalities that did not receive funds from the program made up the control group. We found that the program was inefficient to reduce the homicide rate in all of the municipalities that had received funds from it, compared to those that had not, even considering their potential spatial spillover effects. This result was expected due to the program complexity, in particular due to its ineffective management and the resistance from municipalities to change with the program.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicide Rate Trends in the Tsunami-Disaster-Affected Area Following the Great East Japan Earthquake

Crisis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masatsugu Orui ◽  
Suzuka Saeki ◽  
Yuki Kozakai ◽  
Shuichiro Harada ◽  
Mizuho Hayashi
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Great East Japan Earthquake ◽  
Short Time Scale ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
Affected Area ◽  
Tsunami Disaster ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Miyagi Prefecture ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Background: People who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) were expected to have additional levels of psychological burden resulting from the stressful conditions imposed during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; consequently, suicide rates may increase. Aim: We aimed to carry out continuous monitoring of suicide rates in the affected area following the GEJE under COVID-19 pandemic conditions. Method: This descriptive study monitored the suicide rates of the coastal area of Miyagi Prefecture, where disaster-related mental health activities have been continuing following severe damage caused by the tsunami disaster. An exponential smoothing time-series analysis that converted suicide rates into a smooth trend was conducted. Results: Although the suicide rate in the affected area was higher than the national average in February 2020, it showed a declining trend during the COVID-19 pandemic, while showing an increase trend in the national and non-affected areas. Limitations: Uncertainty about the direct reasons for suicide and the short time-scale observation are the limitations of this study. Conclusion: Although the national suicide rate increased, this was not the case for the affected area. Our findings may provide important lessons for suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic, which needs careful regional monitoring of the state of suicide and of high-risk approaches such as disaster-related mental health activities.

scholarly journals Effect of 7 July 2005 terrorist attacks in London on suicide in England and Wales

2009 ◽  
Vol 194 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emad Salib ◽  
Mario Cortina-Borja
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Control Charts ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
Similar Reduction ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Icd 10 ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundA reduction in suicide in England and Wales has been reported after the attacks of 11 September 2001 in the USA. It may be plausible therefore to expect a much greater impact on suicide in the UK in response to the events of 7 July 2005, caused by the first suicide terrorist attack by Islamic extremists on British soil.AimsTo examine the effect of the 7 July 2005 terrorist attacks in London on suicide rates in England and Wales.MethodAnalysis of number of suicide (ICD–10 codes X60–X84) and undetermined injury deaths (ICD–10 codes Y10–Y34) reported in England and Wales in the 12 weeks before and after 7 July 2005. We used Shewhart Control Charts based on Poisson rates to explore adjusted daily and weekly suicide rates and rate differences with respect to 7 July 2005.ResultsA brief but significant reduction in daily suicide rate was observed a few days after the terrorist attack in London on 7 July 2005. Further reduction was also observed on the 21 July 2005, coinciding with the second wave of attacks. No similar reduction in suicide was seen during the same period in the previous 4 years. Poisson regression models with indicator variables for each day in July 2005 revealed a reduction of 40% of the expected daily rate for these 2 days only. We found no evidence of any longer-term effect on suicide.ConclusionsThe study findings are contrary to our expectation and only weakly support Durkheim's theory that periods of national threat lower the suicide rate through the impact on social cohesion. It is possible that previous experience of IRA terrorism in the UK may have limited the effect of the 7 July 2005 attacks on suicide in England and Wales. The shock value of suicide terrorism and its psychological potency appear to diminish over time as the tactic becomes overused.

Homicide-Suicide Rates and Homicide Rates

1997 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 178-178
Author(s):  
David Lester
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Homicide Rate ◽  
Homicide Rates ◽  
Negatively Associated ◽  
Suicide Rates

In 27 studies on murder-suicide, the homicide rate was negatively associated with the percentage of murder-suicides, and the murder-suicide rate showed less variation than the homicide rate.

scholarly journals State handgun purchase age minimums in the US and adolescent suicide rates: regression discontinuity and difference-in-differences analyses

BMJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. m2436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Raifman ◽  
Elysia Larson ◽  
Colleen L Barry ◽  
Michael Siegel ◽  
Michael Ulrich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Adolescent Suicide ◽  
Regression Discontinuity ◽  
State Policies ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Difference

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the association between US state policies that establish age 18 or 21 years as the minimum purchaser age for the sale of handguns and adolescent suicide rate.DesignRegression discontinuity and difference-in-differences analyses.Setting46 US states without policy changes between 2001 and 2017; Missouri and South Carolina, which lowered the age for handgun sales in 2007 and 2008, respectively; and West Virginia and Wyoming, which increased the age for handgun sales in 2010.ParticipantsAdolescents aged 13 to 20 years(554 461 961 from 2001 to 2017) in the regression discontinuity analysis, and adolescents aged 18 to 20 years (168 934 041 from 2002 to 2014) in the main difference-in-differences analysis.Main outcome measureSuicide rate per 100 000 adolescents.ResultsIn the regression discontinuity analysis, state policies that limited the sale of handguns to those aged 18 or older (relative to 21 or older) were associated with an increase in suicide rate among adolescents aged 18 to 20 years equivalent to 344 additional suicides in each state where they were in place between 2001 and 2017. In the difference-in-differences analysis, state policies that limited the sale of handguns to those aged 21 or older were associated with 1.91 fewer suicides per 100 000 adolescents aged 18 to 20 years (95% confidence interval −3.13 to −0.70, permutation adjusted P=0.025). In the difference-in-differences analysis, there were 1.83 fewer firearm related suicides per 100 000 adolescents (−2.66 to −1.00, permutation adjusted P=0.002), with no association between age 21 handgun sales policies and non-firearm related suicides. Separate event study estimates indicated increases in suicide rates in states that lowered the age of handgun sales, with no association in states that increased the age of handgun sales.ConclusionsA clear discontinuity was shown in the suicide rate by age at age 18 in states that limited the sale of handguns to individuals aged 18 or older. State policies to limit the sale of handguns to individuals aged 21 or older were associated with a reduction in suicide rates among adolescents. Increases in suicide rates were observed after states lowered the age of handgun sales, but no effect was found in states that increased the age of handgun sales.

Suicide during war and genocides

2021 ◽  
pp. 209-214
Author(s):  
David Lester
Keyword(s):  
Civil Wars ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Prisoners Of War ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
The Holocaust ◽  
The Impact

Research indicates that suicide rates decline during wartime. The most likely explanation for this decline is the greater social cohesion of societies during wartime, but changes in the economy during wartime, such as reduced rates of unemployment, may also play a role. The impact of civil wars on suicide rates is unclear since the data in the different reports are inconsistent. Prisoners of war who are treated harshly have higher suicide rates after release. The suicide rate of Jews was high during all phases of the Holocaust in the 1930s and 1940s. Whether suicide terrorists resemble typical suicides remains a subject for debate.

The Impact of Suicide Prevention Centers on the Suicide Rate in the Canadian Provinces

Crisis ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoon A. Leenaars ◽  
David Lester
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Canadian Provinces ◽  
The Impact

Summary: A study by Leenaars and Lester (1995) found that suicide prevention centers in the provinces of Canada in 1985 had a preventive, but nonsignificant, impact on the suicide rates of the provinces. The present study replicated that study for 1994-1998 and found a similar preventive impact, although weak, of suicide prevention centers on the provincial suicide rates.

Inequalities and Impact of Socioeconomic-Cultural Factors in Suicide Rates Across Italy

Crisis ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 178-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Pompili ◽  
Marco Innamorati ◽  
Monica Vichi ◽  
Maria Masocco ◽  
Nicola Vanacore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Italian Population ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Age And Sex

Background: Suicide is a major cause of premature death in Italy and occurs at different rates in the various regions. Aims: The aim of the present study was to provide a comprehensive overview of suicide in the Italian population aged 15 years and older for the years 1980–2006. Methods: Mortality data were extracted from the Italian Mortality Database. Results: Mortality rates for suicide in Italy reached a peak in 1985 and declined thereafter. The different patterns observed by age and sex indicated that the decrease in the suicide rate in Italy was initially the result of declining rates in those aged 45+ while, from 1997 on, the decrease was attributable principally to a reduction in suicide rates among the younger age groups. It was found that socioeconomic factors underlined major differences in the suicide rate across regions. Conclusions: The present study confirmed that suicide is a multifaceted phenomenon that may be determined by an array of factors. Suicide prevention should, therefore, be targeted to identifiable high-risk sociocultural groups in each country.

Evaluation of the impact of public investment programs on social and economic performance of territories

2019 ◽  
pp. 109-123
Author(s):  
I. E. Limonov ◽  
M. V. Nesena
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Modeling ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Public Investment ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
The Public ◽  
Export Activity ◽  
Regional Investment ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Development Institution

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of public investment programs on the socio-economic development of territories. As a case, the federal target programs for the development of regions and investment programs of the financial development institution — Vnesheconombank, designed to solve the problems of regional development are considered. The impact of the public interventions were evaluated by the “difference in differences” method using Bayesian modeling. The results of the evaluation suggest the positive impact of federal target programs on the total factor productivity of regions and on innovation; and that regional investment programs of Vnesheconombank are improving the export activity. All of the investments considered are likely to have contributed to the reduction of unemployment, but their implementation has been accompanied by an increase in social inequality.

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