On the Public Finance of Capital Punishment

Abstract

Abstract This study examines how local governments handle the financial demands of capital trials. With longitudinal data on county expenditures in Texas, fixed-effects regression estimates underscore two fiscal impacts of capital trials. First, counties raise property tax rates by an average of one-half basis point in years with a concluded trial. Second, counties reduce public safety expenditure by an average of approximately one million dollars. These results are consistent with national, cross-sectional research.