New report: “In areas with active criminal organisations, the average quality of elected politicians is significantly depressed”

“In areas with active criminal organisations, the average quality of elected politicians is significantly depressed, because they’re faced with bribes and punishments,” said the authors. “This makes better (or more highly educated) politicians opt out of a political career, and instead pursue an alternative vocation.”

The Guardian reports on the latest research on the impact of organised crime groups on the global economy, brought together in a series of articles in the Economic Journal (the journal of the Royal Economic Society) this month.