[m0th87]

Meanwhile, the economists behind Freakonomics argue that it was caused by the legalization of abortion: http://freakonomics.com/2005/05/15/abortion-and-crime-who-sh...

I don't have a strong opinion on whether cell phones or abortion or anything else caused the collapse in crime, but do feel like the theories you'll read about the most (assuming you're not an academic in the social sciences) are the ones that make for the most interesting headlines.

[lukev]

I can't believe there is a whole comment thread on this, when it's actually addressed (at moderate length) in the original article.

Are people only responding to headlines, anymore?

[qwsxyh]

Most HN comments are written with a complete disregard to the contents of the links posted.

[melling]

There’s also a lead in gasoline theory:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead–crime_hypothesis

[Gibbon1]

That theory at least has the advantage of having solid neuroscience behind it, generally solid clinical data, and lots of positive cross correlation.

[dustinmr]

And they recently published updated results: https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2019/05/ne...

[jgalt212]

or the elimination of leaded gasoline.

[thrower123]

In reality, it is probably a hugely complicated blending of all these different effects that is almost impossible to tease out root causes for. Complex systems are complex.

[codesushi42]

The drop is likely related to the precipitous technological change at the time though.

The Internet, wireless communication, video games, cheap cable TV. Even Internet porn.

I don't really see cellphones as being the defining factor here. They were relatively rare during the 90s. Even by the early 00s, only rich folks owned them.

[tonyedgecombe]

Or too cheap to steal consumer goods.

[sdinsn]

Crime rates fell across the board, not just petty crime. Violent crime rates fell especially hard

[Gibbon1]

Rape dropped by 75-80% between 1970 and 2015.

[cal5k]

Or video games.

[duxup]

I always heard that folks linked it to lead exposure, paint, gas, etc.

[oldgregg]

If the Ford or Gates Foundation dump hundreds of millions into contraceptive/abortion services in Africa the direct effect is culling the world of black babies. Wrapping it in a veneer of do-goodery is what imperialists have always been doing. Eugenics is still VERY much alive-- I run into sophisticated urbane people all the time who openly believe child-bearing should be restricted to people who pass IQ or means testing.

[HeyLaughingBoy]

Um, no. The direct effect is on the lives of those who would otherwise have to birth and support those babies as they grow into children and adolescents. Using words like "culling" and "veneer of do-goodery" leads the discussion in the direction you want it to go.