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Barrgh-gaining with Somali Pirates

Olaf de Groot (olaf.j.degroot@gmail.com), Matthew Rablen and Anja Shortland (anja.shortland@kcl.ac.uk)

No 74, Economics of Security Working Paper Series from DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research

Abstract: Ransoms paid to Somali pirates are drifting upward and negotiation times are increasing, yet there is huge variation in bargaining outcomes across shipowners. We use a unique dataset of 179 Somali hijackings, and an underlying theoretical model of the bargaining process based on detailed interviews with ransom negotiators, to analyze the empirical determinants of ransom amounts and negotiation lengths. We find that ransom amount and negotiation length depend on the observable characteristics of both pirates and ships and on the "reference ransom" established by previous ransom payments for a specific ship type. International naval enforcement efforts have driven up ransom amounts. We also observe a "hump-shape" in ransoms, with relatively low ransoms being paid following both short and very long negotiations, and the highest ransoms paid following intermediate length negotiations.

Keywords: Piracy; ransom; duration; bargaining; law enforcement; Somalia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: K42 P48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 22 p.
Date: 2012
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-law
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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