Why Did Forgetting Your Turn Signal Lead to a Drug Search? How Economists Expose Hidden Bias in Police Stops

When police pull over drivers for minor infractions like a missing turn signal, is it really about road safety – or is it a pretext to search for illegal contraband? By acting as data detectives across ten years of traffic stops, economists can untangle hidden police motives and uncover severe racial disparities in who gets searched. Discover how economic tools can look past the badge to measure racial bias, evaluate police reforms like body cams, and answer real-world questions about criminal justice.

On Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 5 p.m. in the Reilley Room, Matthew Makofske, Ph.D. will present “Why Did Forgetting Your Turn Signal Lead to a Drug Search? How Economists Expose Hidden Bias in Police Stops” Makofske is an associate professor of economics at Colgate University specializing in applied microeconomics, industrial organization and law and economics. His research investigates how information disclosure policies affect product quality and how regulatory enforcement and penalties shape compliance and enforcer behavior.

This talk is part of the Fall 2026 Social Science Seminar Series, sponsored by the social science departments: anthropology, criminology and sociology; economics; political science; and psychology.