Here is a reminder of Grey Davis's election strategy, following today's
execution.
"Lethal Elections: Gubernatorial Politics and the Timing of
Executions"
BY: JEFFREY D. KUBIK
Syracuse University
Department of Economics
JOHN MORAN
Syracuse University
Department of Economics
Document: Available from the SSRN Electronic Paper Collection:
http://papers.ssrn.com/paper.taf?abstract_id=282294
Date: September 2001
Contact: JEFFREY D. KUBIK
Email: Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Postal: Syracuse University
Department of Economics
426 Eggers Hall
Syracuse, NY 13244-1020 USA
Phone: 315-443-9063
Fax: 315-443-1081
Co-Auth: JOHN MORAN
Email: Mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Postal: Syracuse University
Department of Economics
426 Eggers Hall
Syracuse, NY 13244-1020 USA
ABSTRACT:
We document the existence of a gubernatorial election cycle in
state executions, suggesting that election year political
considerations play a role in determining the timing of
executions. Our analysis indicates that states are approximately
25 percent more likely to conduct executions in gubernatorial
election years than in other years. We also find that elections
have a larger effect on the probability that an African American
defendant will be executed in a given year than on the
probability that a white defendant will be executed, and that
the overall effect of elections is largest in the South and
Midwest. These findings raise concerns that state executions may
fail to meet the constitutional requirements stipulated by the
Supreme Court in Gregg v. Georgia for the administration of
state death penalty laws.
--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929
Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
