18 September 2007

Interesting

From Harper's Index:

Percentage of American adults held in either prisons or mental institutions in 1953 and today, respectively: 0.67, 0.68

Percentage of these adults in 1953 who were in mental institutions: 75

Percentage today who are in prisons: 97

Source: Harper's Magazine, April 2007 (page 17)

Those figures might go a long way toward explaining the rise in crime rates over the past five decades. Currently, despite talk of 'joined-up government', mental health and crime are seen in the west as two almost wholly distinct policy remits. It's certainly convenient, administratively, to do so. But in doing so do we optimize social welfare? I don't know what projects a Social Policy Bond regime aiming to reduce crime would stimulate, but investors would at least have incentives to explore the linkages and answer such questions.

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