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Publications | Claude Berrebi

Publications

2021
Claude Berrebi and Yonah, Hanan . 1/2021. Crime And Philanthropy: Prosocial And Antisocial Responses To Mass Shootings. Victims & Offenders, 16, 1. . Publisher's Version Abstract
Mass shootings have a strong impact on public discourse and perception, affecting more than their direct victims. We use data on charitable contributions and criminal activity in the U.S. over the last decade to identify and quantify the effect of mass shootings on prosocial and antisocial behavior. We find that the effect of mass shootings on prosocial behavior, measured primarily by monetary contributions, is positive and statistically significant. However, the directly affected localities react to mass shootings differently than their neighboring communities, decreasing their charitable contributions. Additionally, we are unable to find a statistically significant effect of mass shootings on antisocial behavior, as measured by various crime rates. Furthermore, we show that mass shootings are different than any other type of criminal behavior, including all other violent offenses, in terms of its effect on prosocial behavior.
2020-berrebi-yonah-crime_and_philanthropy_prosocial_and_antisocial_responses_to_mass_shootings.pdf
2020
Claude Berrebi, Karlinsky, Ariel , and Yonah, Hanan . 10/2020. Individual And Community Behavioral Responses To Natural Disasters. Natural Hazards. . Publisher's Version Abstract
How do people and communities respond to catastrophes? A natural disaster is a type of external, quasi-random and unexpected catastrophic shock that generates psychological, social and economic implications. Using detailed county level administrative data of charitable contributions, crime and natural hazards in the U.S. in the recent decade, we empirically identify and quantify the causal effect of natural disasters on prosocial and antisocial behavioral reactions.      
Our main finding is that while monetary contributions decline in the local affected community in the aftermath of natural disasters, the neighboring and more distant communities react by increasing their charitable giving. Additionally, we find that in the affected community, natural disasters effect crime negatively, dispelling popular conceptions regarding looting, and that while federal assistance crowds out charitable contributions, it does not change the residents reaction to natural disasters. 
2020-berrebi-karlinsky-yonah-nhazd.pdf
2017
Claude Berrebi and Yonah, Hanan . 12/2017. Israeli Philanthropists In The 21St Century. In The State Of The Nation 2017 (Israel), Chp. 1B:Pp. 45-100. Taub Center for Social Policy Studies. . Publisher's Version Abstract

This PDF document was made available from http://taubcenter.org.il as a public service of the TAUB CENTER FOR SOCIAL POLICY STUDIES IN ISRAEL. 

In the last few decades, philanthropy in Israeli society has changed and along with the traditional charitable giving, a new kind of modern philanthropy has emerged. This empirical study aims to profile modern Israeli philanthropists, and to present the characteristics that are linked to donation amounts, donor generosity, and the link between donor characteristics and the likelihood to donate. The study results show differences in Israeli philanthropic behavior that are linked to a variety of economic and socio-demographic variables. First, everything else being equal, female-headed households tend to be more generous in terms of donation as a percent of income. However, male-headed households contribute higher amounts on average. Second, new immigrant philanthropists contribute significantly higher amounts than their Israel-born counterparts and long-time residents. With each additional year of residence in Israel, assimilating and integrating into its society, giving generosity decreases, converging to the level of Israel-born donors. Philanthropists originating from the United States and Western Europe contribute the highest amounts and are found to be the most generous donors compared to those originating from Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. The gap between these groups has widened considerably since 2000. Merging philanthropists’ data with the Central Bureau of Statistics Household Expenditure Survey, shows that philanthropist households differ from the general population in virtually every category examined. All of the results are statistically significant and robust to alternate specifications.

2017-berrebi-yonah-taub-philanthropyinisrael.pdf 2017-berrebi-yonah-taub-philanthropyinisrael-heb.pdf
Claude Berrebi, Shraberman, Kyrill , and Yarin, Shirley . 7/2017. Trends In The Labor Market. Taub Policy Paper , No. 03.7/2017. . Publisher's Version Abstract

This PDF document was made available from http://taubcenter.org.il as a public service of the TAUB CENTER FOR SOCIAL POLICY STUDIES IN ISRAEL. 

This work looks at two highly influential trends in Israel’s current and future labor market. One has to do with changing occupational distribution; the other relates to changes in returns to education. The study finds that between 2013 and 2015 the number of work hours rose in those occupations at low risk of automation and computerization while the number of work hours in high risk occupations fell. This trend was especially prominent among women, and to a lesser extent among Arab Israelis and immigrants (versus the non-immigrant Jewish population). An examination of returns to education finds an increase in the contribution of one year of formal education to wages between 2003 and 2014. Here, too, there are differences between men and women and the different social sectors. Especially prominent is the relatively consistent rise in the returns to education among immigrant men, and the larger increase among women than among men. On the one hand, these developments reflect the Israeli labor market’s resilience and the opportunities available in it as the labor force adapts to an information and service economy. On the other hand, there are implications regarding wage distribution, among them the polarization in the labor market and rising wage inequality.

2017-berrebi-shraberman-yarin-taub-trends_in_the_labor_market-eng.pdf 2017-berrebi-shraberman-yarin-taub-trends_in_the_labor_market-heb.pdf
2016
Claude Berrebi and Yonah, Hanan . 12/2016. Terrorism And Philanthropy: The Effect Of Terror Attacks On The Scope Of Giving By Individuals And Households.. Public Choice, 169, 3-4, Pp. 171-194 [Lead Article]. . Publisher's Version Abstract

Behavioral reactions to terrorism may be displayed in different ways. While some individuals react by holding back on their financial and charitable activities following stressful events, others may express more generosity by increasing their giving due to solidarity and empathy with the victims, or out of heightened nationalism and patriotism. Using a longitudinal analysis of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict as a case study to uncover the relations between terrorism and philanthropic behavior, we find that terror attacks increase considerably the scope of giving by individuals and households. Our empirical approach relies on a unique panel dataset of 152,731 tax itemizer philanthropists and terrorism data from 1999 to 2011. The results are statistically significant and robust across a multitude of model specifications. Furthermore, we use an instrumental variable approach to identify a causal link and address potential endogeneity concerns. This study is, to the best of our knowledge, the first attempt to empirically identify and quantify the effect of sequential terror attacks on philanthropy over a relatively long period using detailed micro-level information.

2016_12-berrebi-yonah_terror_philanthropy-public-choice.pdf
Claude Berrebi and Ostwald, Jordan . 2/2016. Terrorism And The Labor Force: Evidence Of An Effect On Female Labor Force Participation And The Labor Gender Gap.. Journal Of Conflict Resolution, 60, 10, Pp. 32-60. . Publisher's Version Abstract

Recent studies have identified correlational associations linking terrorism and females’ standing in the labor market.Theories have been proposed to explain these associations. Some concluded that women’s participation in the labor force could be the driver that moves terrorism; others proposed that terrorism motivates the deviations in the labor force. No study has adequately explored causality and the direction of this association. Using a panel data set of 165 countries and terrorism data from 1980 to 2007, we find that terrorist attacks decrease female labor force participation and increase the gender gap between male and female labor force participation. By exploiting variation across countries and time, we are able to identify and quantify these effects; we are also able to address endogeneity concerns by using two novel instrumental variable approaches.The results are statistically significant and robust across a multitude of model specifications.

2016-berrebi-ostwald-jcr-flfpr.pdf
2015
Steven W. Popper, Shatz, Howard J. , Abramzon, Shmuel , Berrebi, Claude , and Efron, Shira . 10/2015. The Strategic Perspective And Long-Term Socioeconomic Strategies For Israel. Rand Policy Report, RR-488-PMO. . Publisher's Version Abstract

This PDF document was made available from www.rand.org as a public service of the RAND Corporation. 

Many of Israel’s socioeconomic achievements have been dramatic. A young country that has absorbed massive influxes of immigrants and responded to constant security threats, Israel successfully developed a vibrant, open, and technologically advanced economy characterized by high rates of economic growth. However, Israel faces substantial economic and social challenges, some of which are well known to policymakers and have recently fueled a wide wave of social unrest. These challenges include differential ability within the population to participate in and benefit from the growth in the economy, rising costs of living, and questions on the part of the public about the government’s ability to address those challenges. Faced with major existential challenges throughout Israel’s history, the government has not routinely developed strategic responses to problems that demand longer-term, coordinated policy action. This research is an initial attempt in developing means by which Israel could enhance its capacity for applying strategic thinking to the development of government policy, particularly in the socioeconomic sphere.

2015-rand-rr-long-term_socio-economic_strategy_in_israel.pdf
Efraim Benmelech, Berrebi, Claude , and Klor, Esteban F. . 1/2015. Counter-Suicide-Terrorism: Evidence From House Demolitions.. Journal Of Politics, 77, 1, Pp. 27-43. . Publisher's Version Abstract

This article examines whether house demolitions are an effective counterterrorism tactic against suicide terrorism. We link original longitudinal microlevel data on houses demolished by the Israeli Defense Forces with data on the universe of suicide attacks against Israeli targets. By exploiting spatial and time variation in house demolitions and suicide attacks during the second Palestinian uprising, we show that punitive house demolitions (those targeting Palestinian suicide terrorists and terror operatives) cause an immediate, significant decrease in the number of suicide attacks. In contrast, Palestinian fatalities do not have a consistent effect on suicide terror attacks, while curfews and precautionary house demolitions (demolitions justified by the location of the house but unrelated to the identity of the house’s owner) cause a significant increase in the number of suicide attacks. The results support the view that selective violence is an effective tool to combat terrorist groups and that indiscriminate violence backfires. 

2015-benmelech-berrebi-klor-jop-hd.pdf
Berrebi Claude and Jordan, Ostwald . 1/2015. Terrorism And Fertility: Evidence For A Causal Influence Of Terrorism On Fertility.. Oxford Economic Papers, 67, 1, Pp. 63-82. . Publisher's Version Abstract

Using a panel data set of 170 countries and terrorism data from 1970 to 2007, we find that terrorist attacks decrease fertility as measured by both total fertility rates and crude birth rates. Furthermore, by using a novel instrumental variable approach, we identify a causal link and address endogeneity concerns related to the possibility of stress, caused by rising birth rates or transitioning demographics, affecting terrorism. We find that on average, terrorist attacks decrease fertility, reducing both the expected number of children a woman has over her lifetime and the number of live births occurring during each year. The results are statistically significant and robust across a multitude of model specifications, varying measures of fertility, and differing measures of terrorism.

2015-berrebi-ostwald-oep-fertility.pdf
2013
Jessica Saunders, Popper, Steven W. , Morral, Andrew R. , Davis, Robert C. , Berrebi, Claude , Leuschner, Kristin J. , Efron, Shira , Segalovitz, Boaz , and Riley, Jack K. . 6/2013. Effective Policing For 21St Century Israel. Rand Policy Report, RR-287-MPS. . Publisher's Version Abstract

This PDF document was made available from www.rand.org as a public service of the RAND Corporation. 

Israel has changed dramatically since its founding, especially in the past two decades. There is a public interest in having the police provide a type and level of service that keeps pace with these changes. Despite relatively low crime rates, the public in Israel still perceives threats to personal security and expresses concern over quality of police service. This research developed, analyzed, and evaluated approaches to address issues of public perceptions and public trust in the police, benchmarking the police against other police organizations, performance measurement, as well as addressing deterrence and crime prevention concerns.

2013-rand_rr-israel-police.pdf
Claude Berrebi and Ostwald, Jordan . 4/2013. Exploiting The Chaos: Terrorist Target Choice Following Natural Disasters. Southern Economic Journal, 79, 4, Pp. 793-811. . Publisher's Version Abstract

This article explores the differences between transnational and domestic terrorism, further differentiating by private versus government targets, to estimate the effect of exogenous catastrophic shocks on a country’s level of domestic and transnational terrorism. The empirical analysis uses detailed data on terrorism, natural disasters, and other relevant controls for 176 countries from 1970–2007 to illuminate several key disparities in a postdisaster target choice of terrorists. The results indicate that natural disasters incite both transnational and domestic terrorism; however, evidence is found for dissimilar motivations between the two. While both types of terrorism increase after disasters, transnational attacks against the government increase immediately following the disaster, suggesting an impetus to exploit weakened ‘‘hard’’ targets during the chaos. Conversely, domestic terrorism against the government takes longer to manifest, suggesting a period of time for which the public recovers and assesses the government’s response.

2013-berrebi-ostwald-sej-type-targets-nd-terr.pdf
Walter L. Perry, Berrebi, Claude , Brown, Ryan Andrew , Hollywood, John , Jaycocks, Amber , Roshan, Parisa , Sullivan, Thomas , and Miyashiro, Lisa . 2013. Predicting Suicide Attacks: Integrating Spatial, Temporal And Social Features Of Terrorist Attacks Targets, Pp. 118. RAND Publications. . Publisher's Version Abstract

This PDF document was made available from www.rand.org as a public service of the RAND Corporation. 

Set out to develop ways to predict what determines the targets of suicide attacks, using Israel as a sample, we created a database that coded for sociocultural, political, economic, and demographic factors, then conducted both quantitative and qualitative analyses with an eye to determining what puts a given area at greater risk. The quantitative analysis established that these factors are related to the odds of attack within specific neighborhoods and that the relationships held even when controlling for geospatial factors, so they seem to confer risk for reasons beyond their association with geospatial features of neighborhoods. 

2013-rand-mg-predicting-suicide-attacks-nrl.pdf
2012
Benmelech Efraim, Claude, Berrebi , and Esteban F., Klor . 1/2012. Economic Conditions And The Quality Of Suicide Terrorism.. Journal Of Politics, 74, 1, Pp. 113-128. . Publisher's Version Abstract

This article analyzes the link between economic conditions and the quality of suicide terrorism. While the existing empirical literature shows that poverty and economic conditions are not correlated with thequantityof terror, theory predicts that poverty and poor economic conditions may affect thequalityof terror. Poor economic conditions may lead more able and better-educated individuals to participate in terror attacks, allowing terror organizations to send better-qualified terrorists to more complex, higher-impact terror missions. Using the universe of Palestinian suicide terrorists who acted against Israeli targets in 2000–06, we provide evidence of the correlation between economic conditions, the characteristics of suicide terrorists, and the targets they attack. High levels of unemployment enable terror organizations to recruit better educated, more mature, and more experienced suicide terrorists, who in turn attack more important Israeli targets.

2012-benmelech-berrebi-klor-jop-econditionsqualityst.pdf
Berrebi Claude and Esteban F., Klor . 2012. Do Poor Economic Conditions Affect Terrorism?. Eusecon Policy Briefing. . Publisher's Version Abstract

While the existing empirical literature shows that poverty and economic conditions are not correlated with the quantity of terror, theory predicts that poverty and poor economic conditions may affect the quality of terror. Poor economic conditions may lead more able individuals to participate in terror attacks, allowing terror organizations to send betterqualified terrorists to more complex, high-impact terror missions. Using data on Palestinian suicideterrorists, we provide evidence of the correlation between economic conditions, the characteristics of suicide terrorists, and the targets they attack.

2012-berrebi-klor-eusecon-poor-econ-terr-diw_eusecon_pb0015.pdf
2011
Claude Berrebi and Ostwald, Jordan . 12/2011. Earthquakes, Hurricanes, And Terrorism: Do Natural Disasters Incite Terror?. Public Choice, 149, 3-4, Pp. 383-403. . Publisher's Version Abstract

A novel and important issue in contemporary security policy is the impact of natural disasters on terrorism. Natural disasters can strain a society and its government, creating vulnerabilities which terrorist groups might exploit. Using a structured methodology and detailed data on terrorism, disasters, and other relevant controls for 167 countries between 1970 and 2007, we find a strong positive impact of disaster-related deaths on subsequent terrorism incidence and fatalities. Furthermore, the effects differ by disaster type and GDP per capita. The results consistently are significant and robust across a multitude of disaster and terrorism measures for a diverse set of model specifications.

2011-berrebi-ostwald-pub-choice-terr-nd.pdf
Katherine Kahn, Ryan, Gery , Beckett, Megan , Taylor, Stephanie , Berrebi, Claude , Cho, Michelle , Quiter, Elaine , Fremont, Allen , and Pincus, Harold . 4/2011. Bridging The Gap Between Basic Science And Clinical Practice: A Role For Community Clinicians.. Implementation Science, 6, 34, Pp. 1-11. . Publisher's Version Abstract

Background: Translating the extraordinary scientific and technological advances occurring in medical research laboratories into care for patients in communities throughout the country has been a major challenge. One contributing factor has been the relative absence of community practitioners from the US biomedical research enterprise. Identifying and addressing the barriers that prevent their participation in research should help bridge the gap between basic research and practice to improve quality of care for all Americans. Methods: We interviewed over 200 clinicians and other healthcare stakeholders from 2004 through 2005 to develop a conceptual framework and set of strategies for engaging a stable cadre of community clinicians in a clinical research program. Results: Lack of engagement of community practitioners, lack of necessary infrastructure, and the current misalignment of financial incentives and research participation emerged as the three primary barriers to community clinic

2011-imp-sci-bridgingthegaproleforcommunityclinicians.pdf
Megan Beckett, Quiter, Elaine , Ryan, Gery , Berrebi, Claude , Taylor, Stephanie , Cho, Michelle , Pincus, Harold , and Kahn, Katherine . 4/2011. Bridging The Gap Between Basic Science And Clinical Practice: The Role Of Organizations In Addressing Clinician Barriers.. Implementation Science, 6, 35, Pp. 1-29. . Publisher's Version Abstract

Background: New National Institutes of Health policies call for expansion of practice-based research to improve the clinical research enterprise and facilitate dissemination of evidence-based medicine. Objective: This paper describes organizational strategies that influence clinicians' decisions to participate in clinical research. Design: We reviewed the literature and interviewed over 200 clinicians and stakeholders. Results: The most common barriers to community clinician participation in clinical research relate to beliefs that clinical research is too burdensome and has little benefit for the participating clinician or patient. We identified a number of approaches healthcare organizations can use to encourage clinicians to participate in research, including an outreach campaign to promote the benefits of clinical research; selection of study topics of interest to clinicians; establishment and enforcement of a set of research principles valuing the clinician and patient; developme

2011-imp-sci-bridgingthegaporg.pdf
Gery Ryan, Berrebi, Claude , Beckett, Megan , Taylor, Stephanie , Quiter, Elaine , Cho, Michelle , Pincus, Harold , and Kahn, Katherine . 4/2011. Reengineering The Clinical Research Enterprise To Involve More Community Clinicians.. Implementation Science, 6, 36, Pp. 1-23. . Publisher's Version Abstract

Background: The National Institutes of Health has called for expansion of practice-based research to improve the clinical research enterprise. Methods: This paper presents a model for the reorganization of clinical research to foster long-term participation by community clinicians. Based on the literature and interviews with clinicians and other stakeholders, we posited a model, conducted further interviews to test the viability of the model, and further adapted it. Results: We propose a three-dimensional system of checks and balances to support community clinicians using research support organizations, community outreach, a web-based registry of clinicians and studies, web-based training services, quality audits, and a feedback mechanism for clinicians engaged in research. Conclusions: The proposed model is designed to offer a systemic mechanism to address current barriers that prevent clinicians from participation in research. Transparent mechanisms to guarantee the safety of patien

2011-imp-sci-reengineeringtheclinicalresearch.pdf
Claude Berrebi and Thelen, Véronique . 2011. Dilemmas Of Foreign Aid In Post-Conflict Areas&Nbsp;. In Dilemmas Of Intervention: Social Science For Stabilization And Reconstruction - Paul K. Davis, (Ed.), MG-1119-OSD, Chp. 7 :Pp. 291-320. RAND Publications. . Publisher's Version Abstract

This PDF document was made available from www.rand.org as a public service of the RAND Corporation. 

One of the primary whole-of-government instruments for stability and reconstruction (S&R) operations is foreign assistance. However, social-science research reveals serious uncertainties and disagreements about the role and effectiveness of aid; it also raises what can be seen as recurring dilemmas, or at least tensions. This chapter attempts to synthesize the related literature and clarify selected issues, primarily for the purpose of informing government officials concerned with S&R.

2011-berrebi-thelen-rand-post-conflict-foreign-aid-sstr.pdf
Claude Berrebi, Chivvis, Christopher S. , Davis, Paul K. , Olmstead, Sarah , Taylor, Julie E. , Thelen, Véronique , Watts, Stephen , and Wilke, Elizabeth . 2011. Dilemmas Of Intervention: Social Science For Stabilization And Reconstruction, Pp. 384. RAND Publications. . Publisher's Version Abstract

This PDF document was made available from www.rand.org as a public service of the RAND Corporation. 

This monograph surveys and integrates scholarly social-science literature relating to stabilization and reconstruction (S&R). Its intent is to inform analysis and decisionmaking within the Department of Defense and other government agencies concerned with international interventions in the wake of conflict. 

2011-berrebi-et-al-rand-sstr.pdf