We introduce social capital accumulation into a neoclassical model, showing how it differs from physical and human capital accumulation. We take the view that social capital is crucial to the enjoyment of socially provided goods and that it is mainly accumulated by means of participation to...

This research attempts to explain the large differences in the early diffusion of the mafia across different areas of Sicily. We advance the hypothesis that, after the demise of Sicilian feudalism, the lack of publicly provided property-right protection from widespread banditry favored the...

We present novel evidence on the nexus between alcohol intake and trust at a large cultural gathering event. Throughout six editions, we interviewed nearly 2,000 attendees and collected an objective measure of alcohol intake (Blood Alcohol Concentration, BAC) using electronic breathalyzers and...