Economics of films
Papers should be between 500 and 1000 words long. Spelling and grammar count. The papers should discuss the relevant economic content of the films, preferably as they relate to the readings and class discussion. They should not be critical reviews of the films themselves.
Choose one of the following films.
Topic: The Economics of Crime
Film: Blow (120 minutes)
Readings: Freidman, Milton “An Open Letter to William Bennett” The Future of Freedom Foundation 1990
Gary Becker (1968). “Crime and Punishment: An Economic Approach”. The Journal of Political Economy 76: pp. 169–217
Topic: Capital Punishment
Film: Dead Man Walking (122 minutes)
Readings: Mocan, H N and Gittings, R KG “Getting off Death Row: Commuted Sentences and the Deterrent Effect of Capital Punishment” Journal of Economics and Law vol. 46
Levitt, Steven D., “Understanding Why Crime Fell in the 1990’s: Four Factors that Explain the Decline and Six that Do Not” Journal of Economic Perspectives Vol. 18, No. 1 pp 163-190
Answer PreviewBlow is a film that is created primarily focusing on George Jung. George is an American who was among the largest importers of cocaine in the 1970’s into America. The main source was Colombia where he was able to get…