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The MafiaÐCancer Nexus: Evidence from the Land of Fires

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Abstract

This paper studies the relationship between mafia-driven illegal waste disposal and cancer mortality in the Land of Fires (Campania, Italy). We assemble a new municipality-level dataset combining standardized cancer mortality rates with georeferenced contaminated sites. To address the non-random spatial distribution of waste disposal, we use variation in criminal infiltration -captured by a Mafia Presence Index - as an instrument for environmental exposure. Municipalities with stronger mafia presence exhibit a higher concentration of contaminated sites, and the resulting two-stage least squares estimates point to a substantial association between waste-related contamination and cancer mortality. Effects are particularly pronounced for environmentally mediated cancers (lung, larynx, stomach, bladder, kidney), consistent with epidemiological evidence for the region. A series of robustness analyses, including placebo outcomes, sensitivity analysis and alternative exposure measures, reinforce the interpretation of these results.

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  • Sergio Beraldo & Michela Collaro & Fabio Leone & Immacolata Marino & Domenico Suppa, 2026. "The MafiaÐCancer Nexus: Evidence from the Land of Fires," CSEF Working Papers 769, Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy.
    • Handle: RePEc:sef:csefwp:769
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    JEL classification:

    • P35 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions - - - Public Finance
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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