The Use of Violence in Illegal Markets: Evidence from Mahogany Trade in the Brazilian Amazon

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Chimeli, Ariaster B.; Soares, Rodr R.
• 署名单位: Universidade de Sao Paulo; Columbia University; Getulio Vargas Foundation
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.20160055
• 发表日期: 2017
• 页码: 30-57
• 关键词: deforestation; crime; Prohibition; CONFLICT; CITES; drugs

摘要

We provide evidence on the effect of market illegality on violence. Brazil was historically the main exporter of mahogany. Starting in the 1990s, trade was restricted and eventually prohibited. We build on previous evidence that mahogany trade persisted after prohibition and document relative increases in violence in areas with natural occurrence of mahogany. We show that as illegal activity receded in the late 2000s so did the relative increase in violence. We describe an experience of increase in violence following the transition of a market from legal to illegal and contribute to the evaluation of prohibition policies under limited enforcement.