The Impact of Education on Violent Behavior
Research literature indicates a growing consensus among social scientists and economists that education increases human capital formation and when combined with private sector development activities (workforce development, enterprise promotion, etc.) increases employment and provides an individual the opportunity for higher wages.
Higher wages increase marginal returns from work and create higher opportunity cost for risky behavior. Risk aversion increases as individuals have more to lose from violent behavior. This in turn leads to changes in attitudes and decreased crime levels. One major study indicates that each additional year of education results in an 11 percent reduction in all crime and up to a 30 percent reduction in violent crime.
The dream of a better life through education changes behavior, promotes positive social outcomes and provides the impetus for violence reduction as measured by decreased crime levels (especially violent crimes which are seen to decrease three times more than overall crime rate reductions).
