Violent Video Games and Violent Crime

Southern Economic JournalVolume 82, Issue 4 p. 1247-1265 Article Violent Video Games and Violent Crime Scott Cunningham, Scott Cunningham Department of Economics, Baylor University, One Bear Place #98003, Waco, TX 76798-8003, USA; E-mail: Scott_cunningham@baylor.edu.Search for more papers by this authorBenjamin Engelstätter, Benjamin Engelstätter Darmstadt Business School, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt, Germany and Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung, Mannheim, Germany; E-mail: benjamin.engelstaetter@h-da.de.Search for more papers by this authorMichael R. Ward, Corresponding Author Michael R. Ward Department of Economics, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76017, USA and Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung, Mannheim, GermanyE-mail: mikeward@uta.edu; corresponding author.Search for more papers by this author Scott Cunningham, Scott Cunningham Department of Economics, Baylor University, One Bear Place #98003, Waco, TX 76798-8003, USA; E-mail: Scott_cunningham@baylor.edu.Search for more papers by this authorBenjamin Engelstätter, Benjamin Engelstätter Darmstadt Business School, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt, Germany and Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung, Mannheim, Germany; E-mail: benjamin.engelstaetter@h-da.de.Search for more papers by this authorMichael R. Ward, Corresponding Author Michael R. Ward Department of Economics, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76017, USA and Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung, Mannheim, GermanyE-mail: mikeward@uta.edu; corresponding author.Search for more papers by this author First published: 25 February 2016 https://doi.org/10.1002/soej.12139Citations: 33 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Video games are an increasingly popular leisure activity. As many best-selling games contain hyper-realistic violence, many researchers and policymakers have hypothesized that violent games cause violent behaviors. Laboratory experiments have found evidence suggesting that violent video games increase aggression. Before drawing policy conclusions about the effect of violent games on actual behavior, these experimental studies should be subjected to tests of external validity. Our study uses a quasi-experimental methodology to identify the short-run and medium-run effects of violent game sales on violent crime using time variation in retail unit sales data of the top 30 selling video games and violent criminal offenses from both the Uniform Crime Report and the National Incident-Based Reporting System from 2005 to 2011. We find no evidence of an increase in crime associated with video games and perhaps a decrease. Citing Literature Volume82, Issue4April 2016Pages 1247-1265 RelatedInformation