Does the Italian mafia have an influence on Germany's economy?

Introduction

The influence of the Italian mafia on Germany's economy has been a subject of investigation, particularly focusing on how these organized crime groups operate outside their traditional territories. This synthesis examines the extent and nature of the Italian mafia's economic impact in Germany, drawing insights from multiple research papers.

Key Insights

Infiltration and Economic Impact:
- The 'Ndrangheta, a prominent Italian mafia group, is more active in Germany compared to other traditional Italian mafias like Cosa Nostra and Camorra. Their activities primarily focus on infiltrating the economy and engaging in illegal markets.
- The presence of the mafia in new territories, such as Germany, does not replicate the deep-rooted embeddedness seen in their home regions but rather concentrates on economic infiltration.
Sector-Specific Influence:
- There is a robust positive impact on employment in the construction sector in areas where mafia members have resettled. This suggests that the mafia exploits these new locations mainly for money laundering activities.
Perception and Awareness:
- The murder of six young Italians in Duisburg in 2007 brought significant attention to the presence and operations of Italian mafias in Germany. This event marked a turning point in the German perception of the Italian mafia, highlighting their active presence and operations on German soil.

Conclusion

The Italian mafia, particularly the 'Ndrangheta, has a notable presence in Germany, primarily focusing on economic infiltration and illegal market activities. Their influence is particularly evident in the construction sector, where they exploit opportunities for money laundering. The heightened awareness and perception of their activities in Germany have been significantly influenced by high-profile criminal events. Overall, while the mafia's embeddedness in Germany does not mirror that in Italy, their economic impact, especially in specific sectors, is significant.

Does the Italian mafia have an influence on Germany's economy?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

The territorial expansion of mafia-type organized crime. The case of the Italian mafia in Germany

The Italian mafia's expansion in Germany mainly involves infiltrating the economy and dealing on illegal markets, rather than re-establishing its embeddedness as in its home territories.

When the mafia comes to town

The forced resettlement of mafia members in Italy from 1956 to 1988 led to a robust positive impact on construction sector employment, but no conclusive effect on crime or homicides.

Italian mafias and how they are perceived in Germany

Germans perceive Italian mafias as a threat, both inside and outside Italy, with varying degrees of reality.

Mezzogiorno without the mafia: Modern-day meridionalisti and the making of a ‘space of backwardness’ in eastern Germany

German elites use a comparison between eastern Germany and the Italian Mezzogiorno to portray eastern Germany as a homogenized'space of backwardness' that hinders competitiveness and modernization of the economy.

Italian Mafia in the Netherlands

Germans perceive Italian mafias as a threat, both inside and outside Italy, with varying perceptions based on science, police, and media sources.

Organised Crime in Italy: Mafia and Illegal Markets – Exception and Normality

The Italian mafia is an inadequate paradigm for understanding organized crime in Europe, as it is not the only criminal group involved in the country's illegal markets and extensive infiltration of the legitimate economy and political sphere.

Economia criminale, riappropriazione delle terre e ‘altreconomia’ nel Mezzogiorno

The management of properties confiscated from mafias in Southern Italy may represent a widespread territorial workshop for the establishment of integrated 'alter-economy' supply chains, inspired by fair trade ethics, potentially competing with capitalism for significant market shares.

The Italian mafias in the world: A systematic assessment of the mobility of criminal groups

Italian mafias concentrate in a few countries, with drug trafficking being the most frequent activity, and a stable presence in developed countries like Germany, Canada, Australia, and the United States.

Italian mafias in Europe: between perception and reality. A comparison of press articles in Spain, Germany and the Netherlands

Italian mafias attract significant European interest, with 'Ndrangheta receiving significant attention in Germany and Camorra prevalent in Spain, but Cosa Nostra receiving low domestic attention in the three countries studied.

Le mafie italiane, percezione del fenomeno in Germania

Germans perceive Italian mafias as a phenomenon operating both inside and outside Italy, with various sources presenting and evaluating their presence and influence in Germany.

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