Book chapters

Ransom Kidnapping

In book: Encyclopedia of Law and Economics, Chapter: Ransom Kidnapping, Publisher: Springer, Editors: A. Marciano and G.B. Ramello (2022), ISBN 9781461478836 (with M.Vannini and B.McCannon)

Abstract:  Kidnapping in its widest sense occurs when a person carries away another person by force or fraud with the intent to exploit the abduction for a variety of purposes. Ransom kidnapping refers to a situation in which the overriding purpose for the act is a payment (usually a sum of money) for the release of the hostage and the enrichment of the perpetrators. It is a serious crime causing not only economic losses but also pain and suffering, often in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression (MDD), to the victims and their families. Occasionally it ends in death.

Wine routes and efficiency of wineries in Sardinia

In book:  Agritourism, Wine tourism, and Craft Beer Tourism: Local Responses to Peripherality Through Tourism Niches, Publisher: Routledge, Editors: Giulia Pezzi, Alessandra Faggian and Neil Reid (2022), ISBN 9780367502539 (with MG.Brandano and M.Vannini)

Abstract:  The interest of travellers in wine tourism has been steadily increasing since the 1990s. Consequently, many regions around the world have adopted a variety of policies intended to promote eno-gastronomic tourism. In Sardinia (Italy) this form of tourism has shown a significant upward trend, and today provides a valuable opportunity to rural and often vulnerable inland communities to boost and diversify their economic structure. To encourage this type of tourism, in 2009 the Regional government identified some historic territories of the island and implemented the “wine routes programme” (WRP). These territories were selected according to their importance for growing local grape varieties and showcasing vineyards and winery establishments. The mandate of the routes was to create value around the local viticulture traditions, by sustaining the production of quality wines and by guiding visitors to the discovery of local produce, heritage landmarks and various expressions of the country's popular culture. Since winemakers play a pivotal role, the impact of the WRP on the performance of wineries is of paramount importance to achieve the final goal. To assess the impact of the WRP on the performance of local producers we carry out a controlled before-and-after study, taking the wineries within the wine routes areas as the treated units and the rest of the population as the untreated or control group. The performance of wineries is captured by the scores of a data envelopment analysis (DEA) over the time span 2004–2012. Findings reveal that the WRP increased the technical efficiency of wineries. 

Ransom Kidnapping

In book: Encyclopedia of Law and Economics, Chapter: Ransom Kidnapping, Publisher: Springer, Editors: A. Marciano and G.B. Ramello (2015), ISBN 9781461478836 (with M.Vannini and B.McCannon)

Abstract:  The practice of kidnapping for ransom, a predatory crime carried out mostly by criminal organizations, is a salient phenomenon in many regions of the world. It causes serious harm not only to victims and their families but also to private and social capital. As a paradigmatic rational crime involving negotiations, the incentives to commit the crime and the way it ends change with the probability and severity of punishment, the kidnapper’s willingness to kill the hostage, and the value of the hostage life from the point of view of the family. Limiting the family’s ability to pay reduces the frequency of the offense but opens the possibility of unintended consequences in terms of fatalities and duration of abduction.