The demand for protection and the persistently high rates of gun violence among young black males
本摘要源自该文的 NBER 工作论文版（2022），正式发表版可能有调整。
We develop a theoretical model to explain the persistently high level of gun violence for black males ages 15–24 consistent with the empirical literature. A person may carry a gun for instrumental (i.e., criminal) reasons or for its perceived protective benefit. Discerning underlying motives is difficult. A shock to the instrumental benefit can move the equilibrium to one with a high gun prevalence. The model demonstrates that there are larger returns to reducing the value of guns for crime than trying to reduce their protective benefit, suggesting different policy paths to combat the problem of gun violence.