On February 26th, 2026, the Department of Economics of the University of Messina hosted the Final Conference of the PRIN 2022 PNRR project “The Effect of Organized Crime on Firm Technical Efficiency and R&D Investments”.
The event represented an important opportunity to discuss the project’s findings and reflect on the economic and social implications of organized crime. The day opened with speeches by the provincial heads of the law enforcement agencies — the Carabinieri, the Guardia di Finanza, and the Direzione Investigativa Antimafia — who provided an authoritative institutional perspective on the topic.
This was followed by three scientific sessions organized by the research groups from the University of Messina, the “Mediterranea” University of Reggio Calabria, and the “Dante Alighieri” University of Reggio Calabria, during which the project’s main findings were presented. In particular, the discussion focused on the economic costs of organized crime, the market frictions it generates, and the role of the institutional response in countering its effects on the productive system.
In the afternoon, the event concluded with a roundtable discussion involving representatives of civil society and business associations, including Confindustria, ANCE, Libera, and the Padre Pino Puglisi Anti-Usury Foundation, providing a further opportunity for dialogue among research, institutions, and the local community.
