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Gangsta gangsta
Speaking of Freakonomics: as discussed earlier, the authors attribute the 1990s drop in violent crime to the legalization of abortion (in combination with increased jailing and tougher gun laws). But anthopologist Grant McCracken has a still more novel hypothesis: the drop in crime, he argues, can be attributed to hip-hop. (After all, they coincided...)
Imagine how big the drop in crime would have been if only Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Jam Master Jay, et al. weren't gunned down.
(Via Consuming Things)
Posted by carrie on 08/04/2005 | Permalink
Comments
Thanks Carrie, that's a good one. Gotta wonder what's next - rap reduces rape statistics? Must be all those positve images of how to treat women (sorry, "bitches") that rappers expound.
Posted by: Jim | Aug 5, 2005 6:37:38 AM
Correlation = causation?
Some neglected piece of bread behind my couch has caused the price of oil to go up. Each new mold spore can be precisely linked up to a few cents of increase, when viewed in a wide enough scope and then not scrutinized at all.
(Also, when I grew taller and older during the 80's it had a direct effect on the girl that played V.I.C.K.I. on Small Wonder also getting taller and older. It's a fact.)
Posted by: zach | Aug 5, 2005 9:57:37 AM
I think there's something to the theory. It resembles the theory about the Mets's great 1969 season (which they capped by winning their first World Series) having prevented rioting in New York that summer.
Posted by: Paul | Aug 21, 2005 3:05:33 AM
