Defending organized crime? A note

Jürgen G. Backhaus

No 120, Discussion Papers, Series I from University of Konstanz, Department of Economics

Abstract: The objective of this note.is to discuss optimal enforcement strategies vis-a-vis organized and unorganized crime. Taking an earlier contribution by Buchanan as a starting point of the analysis, it is argued that his proposal to monopolize crime in order to reduce the general level of criminal activity is a questionable strategy to curb crime. Syndicated crime is likely to benefit from economies of scale in the provision of non-governmental enforcement of agreements and contracts. The consequent reduction in costs is likely to increase the general level of criminal activity. Nevertheless, the price-theoretic argument is seen as an interesting starting point for the design of new strategies to combat crime.

Date: 1979
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/78219/1/688814166.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:kondp1:120

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Discussion Papers, Series I from University of Konstanz, Department of Economics Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics ().