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Shall we follow the money? Anti-mafia policies and electoral competition

Author

Listed:
  • Ferrante, Livio
  • Reito, Francesco
  • Spagano, Salvatore
  • Torrisi, Gianpiero

Abstract

Building upon the evidence that the mafia increases the degree of vote concentration, we use data on regional elections in Sicily to estimate the impact of anti-mafia policies on electoral competition. We find robust evidence that the reassignment for social purposes of property and assets seized to the mafia reduces the degree of electoral concentration. This result supports the hypothesis that policies that create social value, such as the reallocation to social-driven organizations, are more effective than those targeted to public and political institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Ferrante, Livio & Reito, Francesco & Spagano, Salvatore & Torrisi, Gianpiero, 2021. "Shall we follow the money? Anti-mafia policies and electoral competition," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 43(5), pages 1110-1130.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:43:y:2021:i:5:p:1110-1130
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2021.03.010
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    2. Resce, Giuliano, 2022. "Political and Non-Political Officials in Local Government," Economics & Statistics Discussion Papers esdp22079, University of Molise, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Elections; Vote concentration; Criminal organizations; Mafia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law

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