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Institutional trust and the confiscation of real estate assets from organised crime

Damiano Fiorillo et al.

Journal of Institutional Economics2026https://doi.org/10.1017/s1744137426100459article
AJG 3ABDC B
Weight
0.50

Abstract

This paper analyses whether the confiscation of real estate assets from organised crime affects citizens’ trust in government institutions and the legal system. The case of Italy is considered, where confiscation constitutes a distinctive policy tool against mafia-type organisations. The empirical analysis combines individual-level trust data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics’ Aspects of Daily Life survey with regional data on confiscations from the National Agency for Seized and Confiscated Assets for the period 2014–2022. Using linear and non-linear regression models, along with an instrumental variables approach, we find heterogeneous results. The confiscation of real estate assets from mafia organisations increases trust in government institutions and the legal system in the Southern regions, where organised crime is generally stronger. In Central and Northern regions, the positive effect is weaker and confined to the local tiers of government. Here, confiscations reduce trust in the legal system.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s1744137426100459

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@article{damiano2026,
  title        = {{Institutional trust and the confiscation of real estate assets from organised crime}},
  author       = {Damiano Fiorillo et al.},
  journal      = {Journal of Institutional Economics},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s1744137426100459},
}

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.