# Organised crime infiltration in the legitimate private economy - An empirical network analysis approach

**Authors:** Stefano Gurciullo  
**arXiv:** [1403.5071](https://arxiv.org/abs/1403.5071)  
**Date:** 2014-03-20  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/1403.5071v1/

## Key points

- Italian Mafias generated 135 billion euros in profits in 2010 from illicit markets
- Organised crime invests money into legitimate private economies, which can destabilise affected economies and lead to violent competition and stagnation
- Poor data availability and high risk involved in gathering it has hindered attempts to uncover patterns followed by criminal organisations in their business ventures
- Stefano Gurciullo's paper analyses information about the Sicilian Mafia's infiltration into a city's legitimate private economy using network techniques
- Sectors with high centrality and fewer firms are most vulnerable to security threats from organised crime groups
- Centrality is also a key criterion for making a firm sensitive to infiltration if it belongs to a susceptible economic sector
- Increased vigilance may be necessary in vulnerable sectors to prevent organised crime from operating within legitimate economies.

## Summary

Organised crime is a significant issue in many countries, with Italian Mafias alone estimated to have registered 135 billion euros in profits in 2010. This money, largely derived from illicit markets such as drugs, prostitution and arms, is often invested into legitimate private economies. However, this can destabilise affected economies and lead to violent competition and stagnation. Despite the severity of the problem, few attempts have been made to uncover the patterns followed by criminal organisations in their business ventures due to poor data availability or the high risk involved in gathering it. Stefano Gurciullo's paper aims to address this gap by analysing information about the Sicilian Mafia's infiltration into a city's legitimate private economy using network techniques. The research shows that sectors with a high degree of centrality and fewer firms are most vulnerable to security threats from organised crime groups. Additionally, centrality is also a key criterion for making a firm sensitive to infiltration if it belongs to a susceptible economic sector. This study provides valuable insights into how organised crime operates within legitimate economies and highlights areas where increased vigilance may be necessary.