Organised violence: the mafia

This chapter reviews our knowledge of the relationship between violence and organised crime. Our focus is on Italian criminal organizations, as they represent a well-studied case of how violence can shape the origins, success and impact of criminal groups. We explore interconnected theories that explain why organized crime develops in some areas rather than others, and then discuss how criminal organizations can expand and migrate to new areas. Finally, we document the detrimental effects of organized criminal violence on firms, politicians and ordinary citizens.