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The Economic Effects of Mafia: Firm Level Evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Litterio Mirenda
  • Sauro Mocetti
  • Lucia Rizzica

Abstract

We analyze the effects of Mafia infiltration in the legal economy. Combining information from investigative records with panel data on firms' governance and balance sheets, we build an indicator of infiltration in firms located in an area with no tradition of Mafia. We show that Mafia targets young and less efficient firms and that infiltration generates a significant rise in firms' revenues, with no proportionate growth in production inputs and a deterioration of the firm's financial situation leading to market exit. These findings are consistent with a story of predatory behavior in which infiltration is used for money laundering or rent extraction.

Suggested Citation

  • Litterio Mirenda & Sauro Mocetti & Lucia Rizzica, 2022. "The Economic Effects of Mafia: Firm Level Evidence," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(8), pages 2748-2773, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:112:y:2022:i:8:p:2748-73
    DOI: 10.1257/aer.20201015
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Dottori, Davide & Micucci, Giacinto & Sigalotti, Laura, 2024. "Trade debts and bank lending in years of crisis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    2. Piemontese, Lavinia, 2023. "Uncovering illegal and underground economies: The case of mafia extortion racketeering," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    3. Krahé, Max, 2023. "Italiens Stagnation verstehen," Papers 277907, Dezernat Zukunft - Institute for Macrofinance, Berlin.
    4. Jaime Arellano-Bover & Marco De Simoni & Luigi Guiso & Rocco Macchiavello & Domenico J. Marchetti & Mounu Prem, 2024. "Mafias and Firms," CESifo Working Paper Series 11043, CESifo.
      • Arellano-Bover, Jaime & De Simoni, Marco & Guiso, Luigi & Macchiavello, Rocco & Marchetti, Domenico J. & Prem, Mounu, 2024. "Mafias and Firms," IZA Discussion Papers 16893, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
      • Arellano-Bover, Jaime & De Simoni, Marco & Guiso, Luigi & Macchiavello, Rocco & Marchetti, Domenico J. & Prem, Mounu, 2024. "Mafias and Firms," SocArXiv sr6ep, Center for Open Science.
      • De Simoni, Marco & Guiso, Luigi & Macchiavello, Rocco & Marchetti, Domenico J. & Prem, Mounu, 2024. "Mafias and Firms," CEPR Discussion Papers 18982, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Stefania Fontana & Giorgio d’Agostino, 2024. "Anti-mafia policies and public goods in Italy," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 198(3), pages 493-529, March.
    6. Campedelli, Gian Maria & Daniele, Gianmarco & Martinangeli, Andrea F.M. & Pinotti, Paolo, 2023. "Organized crime, violence and support for the state," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    7. Bernasconi, Mario, 2024. "Essays on labour economics and industrial organization," Other publications TiSEM c26b3dfe-a2d3-4c31-b0fc-f, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    8. Di Giorno, Saverio & Dileo, Ivano & Busato, Francesco, 2024. "Shades of grand corruption among allocative efficiency and institutional settings. The case of Italy," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    9. Forgione, Antonio Fabio & Migliardo, Carlo, 2023. "Mafia risk perception: Evaluating the effect of organized crime on firm technical efficiency and investment proclivity," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    10. Krahé, Max, 2023. "Understanding Italy's stagnation," Papers 277913, Dezernat Zukunft - Institute for Macrofinance, Berlin.
    11. Alfano, Maria Rosaria & Cantabene, Claudia & de Iudicibus, Alessandro, 2024. "The effectiveness of a certification of legality. Evidence from Italian firms," MPRA Paper 120306, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Paolo Buonanno & Irene Ferrari & Alessandro Saia, 2023. "ALL IS NOT LOST: Organized Crime and Social Capital Formation," Working Papers 2023: 16, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari", revised 2024.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance

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