The authors exploit arguably exogenous train schedule changes in Washington DC to investigate the relationship between public transportation, the risky decision to consume alcohol, and the criminal decision to engage in alcohol-impaired driving. Using variation over time, across days of the week, and over the course of the day, the authors provide evidence that overall there was little effect of expanded public transit service on DUI arrests, alcohol related fatal traffic and alcohol related arrests. However, they find that these overall effects mask considerable heterogeneity across geographic areas. Specifically, the authors find that areas where bars are within walking distance to transit stations experience increases in alcohol related arrests and decreases in DUI arrests. No sign of behavioral changes in neighborhoods without any bars within walking distance of transit stations is observed. (Author/publisher) Supplementary data to this article can be found online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpubeco.2010.09.010
Abstract