Drug Trafficking Wars: Enforcement Versus Smugglers and Smugglers Versus Smugglers. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Che, Ying; Benson, Bruce L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of drug issues. Volume 44:Number 2(2014)
• Page Start: 150
• Page End: 179
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: loss aversion -- prospect theory -- expected utility -- risk aversion -- risk seeking -- drug smuggling -- drug policy -- deterrence -- violence; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Drug and Narcotic Control -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; Toxicomanie -- Périodiques; 362.29305
• DOI: 10.1177/0022042613494839
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0426

Abstract

Decision making in the face of risk from law enforcement is considered from the perspective provided by theoretical models of interdependent decisions of potential drug smugglers regarding entry and the use of violence following entry. Implications of three different models of decision making under risk are examined: expected value, expected utility, and prospect theory. The theoretical results help explain many observed characteristics of drug-smuggling operations and allow clarification of some implications drawn from studies of smuggling behavior that were not considered in the context of such models.