Networks of Organised Crime: Clan Dynamics and the Legal Economy

Is organised crime merely a shadow institution, or does it function as an independent economic actor? What drives the formation and structure of its network? Leveraging unique panel data on clan locations and inter-clan relationships in Southern Italian municipalities, this study aims to examine two perspectives: first, how the dominance of one or multiple clans—and their interactions, whether through conflict or hierarchical control—shapes the legal economy. Second, the project will explore the factors that influence connections between clans, treating the organised crime network as an outcome shaped by both economic and enforcement dynamics.