Matthew Jankowski’s Reviews > The Social Order of the Underworld: How Prison Gangs Govern the American Penal System > Status Update

Nice analysis. Covers howgangs govern facets of life that the prison administration does not. Raises the question of how many prisoners is too many? Reminds me of my own work life.

Author diverges from these points by claiming norms are a means and not an end. People coordinate to achieve objectives. We need to understand what problems norms arise to solve, and what problems they cannot. Second, prisons deprive inmates of governance. I don't think, at this point, the author fully described deprivation or importation theory. Curious to see if he does.

One interesting point is how the high likelihood that a criminal will go to prison gives the prison gang leaders enormous power on the streets. The long sentences for drug dealing since the eighties greatly expanded the membership and power of the gangs.

Rational-choice approach: 1 people are rational 2 adjust their behavior according to conditions. Governance rights: private property, capture benefits of trade, and act collectively. Author nicely compares prison life to a poorly governed country.

Ok, first off the kindle version is nonstandard more pdf than mobi. I would prefer standard format. At least highlights work. The author, like many economists, appropriates much that we understand as commonsensical for his own field. Annoying, but common to the field. That said, economists lay out clearly stated models, and this author is no exception.