Market Structure and Extortion: Evidence from 50,000 Extortion Payments

S-Tier
Journal: Review of Economic Studies
Year: 2025
Volume: 92
Issue: 3
Pages: 1595-1624

Authors (4)

Zach Y Brown (National Bureau of Economic Re...) Eduardo Montero (not in RePEc) Carlos Schmidt-Padilla (not in RePEc) Maria Micaela Sviatschi (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

How does gang competition affect extortion? Using detailed data on individual extortion payments to gangs and sales from a leading wholesale distributor of consumer goods and pharmaceuticals in El Salvador, we document evidence on the determinants of extortion payments and the effects of extortion on firms and consumers. We exploit a 2016 non-aggression pact between gangs to examine how collusion affects extortion in areas where gangs previously competed. While the pact led to a large reduction in competition and violence, we find that it increased the amount paid in extortion by approximately 20%. Much of this increase was passed through to retailers and consumers: retailers experienced an increase in delivery fees, leading to an increase in consumer prices. In particular, we find an increase in prices for pharmaceutical drugs and a corresponding increase in hospital visits for chronic illnesses. The results point to an unintended consequence of policies that reduce competition between criminal organisations.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:restud:v:92:y:2025:i:3:p:1595-1624.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25