Can Education Reduce Violent Crime? Evidence from Mexico before and after the Drug War Onset

Existing theories relate higher education to lower crime rates, yet we have limited evidence on the crime-reducing effect of in developing countries. We contribute this literature by examining homicide Mexico, where rates decreased nearly 55 percent from 1992 2007, before surge drug-related violence. argue that a large amount reduction followed compulsory schooling law at secondary level 1993, when government undertook key reforms promote development and economic integration. employ different empirical strategies combine regression analysis, placebo tests, an instrumental variable approach, find attendance tertiary schools has negative onset Drug War, although for enrolment is more robust. This vanishes after drug war onset, indicating school effects types criminal activity. These findings suggest policy makers can reduce traditional forms interpersonal violence strengthening system.