Gang Rule: Understanding and Countering Criminal Governance

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Blattman, Christopher; Duncan, Gustavo; Lessing, Benjamin; Tobon, Santiago
• 署名单位: University of Chicago; Universidad EAFIT
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMIC STUDIES
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6527
• DOI: 10.1093/restud/rdae079
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 1497-1531
• 关键词: social-order; ECONOMICS; CONFLICT; VIOLENCE

摘要

Criminal groups govern millions worldwide. Even in strong states, gangs resolve disputes and provide security. Why do these duopolies of coercion emerge? Often, gangs fill vacuums of official power, suggesting that increasing state presence should crowd out criminal governance. We show, however, that state and gang rule can be strategic complements. In particular, gangs could minimize seizures and arrests by keeping neighbourhoods orderly and loyal. If true, increasing state presence could increase incentives for gang rule. In Medell & iacute;n, Colombia, criminal leaders told us they rule to protect drug rents from police. We test gang responses to state presence using a geographic discontinuity. Internal border changes in 1987 assigned blocks to be closer or further from state security for three decades. Gangs exogenously closer to state presence developed more governance over time. They primarily did so in neighbourhoods with the greatest potential drug rents. This suggests new strategies for countering criminal governance.