Factors associated with extortion compliance in Mexico: Who pays and why?

• In Event: Multidisciplinary Tools and Approaches to Organised Crime Research

Abstract

Extortion, a quintessential organized crime, is the third most common crime against Mexican businesses and is linked to very prominent cases of violence and national instability. Previous research has shown that extortion victimization is highly concentrated within a subset of repeatedly victimized businesses. However, it is yet unclear what factors are associated with extortion compliance, as previous analyses were not able to discriminate between attempted and completed extortions.

Drawing on Mexico's national commercial victimization survey, this study examines the likelihood of a business complying with extortion demands given incident, business and area characteristics through multilevel logistic modelling. Results are analysed from an environmental criminology perspective, and contribute to the literature on the situational prevention of organized crimes. Specifically, findings refine our understanding of differential extortion victimization risk with the ultimate goal of identifying "pinch-points" that may prove suitable for disrupting, and therefore preventing, this organized crime.

Author

• Patricio Estevez Soto, University College London