The Pie: An Economics Podcast Tax vs Ban: The Unexpected Results on Gun Sales
Nov 1, 2022
Brad Shapiro, a marketing professor at Booth School, delves into the surprising dynamics of gun demand in America. He reveals how different regulations, like bans and taxes, influence consumer behavior and ownership motivations, particularly focusing on self-protection. The discussion highlights the contrasting effects on seasoned gun owners versus newcomers. Shapiro also emphasizes the importance of data in shaping effective gun regulations and dispels the myth of a direct link between gun circulation and violence, advocating for improved data collection to inform policy.
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Motivation for Research
- Brad Shapiro wanted to approach gun policy discussion with more coherent logic and less talking past each other.
- He aimed to apply economic and marketing tools to understand the issue better.
Personal Gun Ownership
- Despite growing up in Texas with gun culture, Brad Shapiro doesn't own a gun in Chicago.
- He feels the risk of accidentally hitting someone is too high in a densely populated area.
Average Gun Demand
- The study focuses on average daily gun demand, not just spikes after incidents or regulations.
- It aims to quantify baseline consumer desire for firearms.