Migrating mafias

• We study the channels favoring mafias' diffusion: forced resettlement and migration.
• We use a panel approach and several measures for mafia-related crimes.
• We exploit exogenous policy changes and address endogeneity by using IV strategy.
• The interaction between confino and migration favor mafia transplantation to the North.
• Our results provide important policy implication.

In the last decades, Italian southern-based mafia organizations have expanded their sphere of influences to the traditionally immune Northern regions. We empirically investigate the channels that favored the diffusion of southern Italian mafias to the northern Italian provinces. We focus our attention on two key factors: i) the large influx of southern migrants during the economic miracle period and ii) the application of the confino law which imposed mafiosi to resettle far from their province of origin. Our findings suggest that the interaction between forced resettlement and migration has represented a crucial factor in favoring criminal organization transplantation to central and northern regions.