Organized Crime and High Crime Equilibrium

This chapter studies the high crime equilibrium and provides an explanation for how crime for profit has evolved in most countries into very violent criminality. An overview of the organizations that specialize in different types of crimes is offered, with special attention drawn to the important spillover effect this has in producing crimes such as extortions, kidnapping for ransom, and human trafficking and on the increasing levels of violence. By tracking the trajectory of offenders, as reported in inmate surveys, this chapter documents individual transitions from initial engagement in low crime and progression into predatory, high-rent criminality. An in-depth study of Mexico, which fell to HCE in a five-year span exemplifies the devastating effects of criminal diversification coupled with weak states.