From Drug Lords to Police State: The Effects of Order Transition on Local Economies

What is the effect on local economies when the state intervenes to capture its own territories back from non-state actors? In 2008, the government of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, implemented a policy to take control of favelas that were previously dominated by organized crime groups (OCGs). We use day an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comparative political studies 2022-09, Vol.55 (10), p.1765-1801
Main Authors: Gentil-Fernandes, Leonardo, Guedes-Neto, João V., Incio, José
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Democratization
Economic growth
Local economy
Non-state actors
Organized crime
State intervention
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Summary:What is the effect on local economies when the state intervenes to capture its own territories back from non-state actors? In 2008, the government of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, implemented a policy to take control of favelas that were previously dominated by organized crime groups (OCGs). We use day and night luminosity to assess the effects of this program on economic growth. The difference-in-differences design shows that state intervention has a significant and negative average treatment effect on the favelas that received the intervention. We further test a mechanism to explain this economic downturn: institutional replacement. Based on crime data, we demonstrate that this effect is caused by the destruction of local markets, especially illicit activities. The data highlight the perils of order transition, even when OCGs are removed by state actors. Furthermore, this paper reinforces the need for policies that are mindful of the externalities of institutional shifts.
ISSN:0010-4140
1552-3829
DOI:10.1177/00104140211060273