The Economics of Firearm Markets, Crime, and Gun Violence
The National Bureau of Economic Research seeks research on the economics of firearm markets, crime, and gun violence, with accepted work presented at an NBER conference.
Funder: National Bureau of Economic Research
Due Dates: October 28, 2026
Funding Amounts: Travel costs for up to two authors per accepted paper; no direct research funding specified.
Summary: Supports economic research on gun violence, firearm markets, and related public policies, with accepted papers presented at an NBER conference.
Description
This initiative, coordinated by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and supported by Arnold Ventures, seeks research that advances understanding of the economics of firearm markets, crime, and gun violence in the United States. The program encourages empirical and theoretical work on the causes, consequences, and policy responses to gun violence, drawing from subfields such as industrial organization, labor, law and economics, health, and public finance.
Research topics of interest include:
- Social and economic costs of gun violence (e.g., crime, suicide, mass shootings)
- Effects of regulations, taxes, and insurance on firearm markets and violence
- The role of law enforcement and social programs in shaping gun-related outcomes
- Sources and supply chains of firearms used in crime and suicide
- The evolution of gun violence in relation to broader social trends (e.g., drug epidemics, COVID-19)
Accepted papers will be presented at a conference held by NBER in Cambridge, MA. The conference is open to early-career researchers and those not affiliated with NBER.
