Mafia and firm performance. The effect of organized crime and its judicial removal

The mafia poses a significant threat to society, institutions, and businesses. To gain power, generate profits, and launder illegal money, organized crime infiltrates companies and public institutions, distorts market prices, and undermines the free competition of legitimate firms. Despite these serious negative effects, few studies measure the impact of the mafia and its removal on firm performance. To fill this gap, this book presents the findings of the PRIN PNRR 2022 research project, titled “The Effect of Organized Crime on Firm Technical Efficiency and R&D Investments,” conducted in collaboration by the University of Messina (leader), the University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, and the University for Foreigners Dante Alighieri of Reggio Calabria. It also explores related topics, such as evaluating the presence of the mafia, the infiltration of organized crime into the legitimate economy, and the role of planning and management control systems in assessing the prospects for the continuity of criminal enterprises under judicial administration and managing their transition from organized crime control to legality, all while protecting operations and jobs.