Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
This paper studies the effect of monetary incentives for firearms seizures on police performance and public safety outcomes. Using data from Brazilian states, we evaluate the impact of Pernambuco’s Pact for Life (Pacto pela Vida) Program, which offers a monetary bonus to police officers for firearms seizures and other outcomes. Our results indicate that the bonus has a causal and positive impact on the number of firearms seizures by police officers. Although we see a decrease in the number of crimes in Pernambuco, it is not possible to be attributed to the bonus policy.