Research & Publications

Journal Articles

Do Border Crossings Contribute to Underage Motor-Vehicle Fatalities? An Analysis of the Michigan Border Crossings

2007, Canadian Journal of Economics

Steven F. Kreft, Nancy M. Epling

Abstract

Currently, Michigan residents can avoid the national drinking age of 21 by crossing into Ontario where the drinking age is 19. This paper explores the impact that border crossings, connecting areas with different minimum legal drinking ages (MLDA), have on motor-vehicle fatalities. We analyze border crossings connecting Michigan to Ontario, as well as to its surrounding states in the period in which Michigan’s MLDA was raised to 21. Using a “differences-in-differences-in-differences” approach we find that the MLDA change did not contribute to increased underage fatalities in border crossing counties.

Citation

Kreft, Steven F. and Nancy M. Epling “Do Border Crossings Contribute to Underage Motor-Vehicle Fatalities? An Analysis of the Michigan Border Crossings.”  Canadian Journal of Economics, v40, n3, (2007): 765-781