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Camorra Closely Observed

NCJ Number
228703
Journal
Global Crime Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2009 Pages: 262-266
Author(s)
Federico Varese
Date Published
August 2009
Length
5 pages
Annotation
These published remarks discuss arrangements of mutual advantage between sectors of the local and national economy of Naples, Italy and the Camorra mafia.
Abstract
Instances of mutual advantage between the Camorra and the Neapolitan public include food distribution, where a managed monopoly keeps prices down. In the drug market, thousands of ordinary people put their savings in the drug market, where investments double in a few months, thus engaging the population in the drug trade. Failure to comply with these extra-legal forms of governance established by the Camorra can result in violence or death. To break the grip of the Camorra, small businesses must be able to rely on banks for funds, taxes must be low enough to reduce incentives to avoid them, and the legitimate labor market must be flexible enough to make local enterprise competitive. State regulations must be simple and the machinery of justice must be rapid and fair. Finally, law enforcement must be able to halt the Camorra's ability to kill and wreak havoc.