Why do mafias develop and flourish? How are illegal markets organised? What makes some radical groups particularly deadly? This course aims to answer similar questions using the economic way of thinking. It is designed for students interested in the application of economics to interesting and unusual areas—like crime. No prior knowledge of economics is required! Together, we will study and discuss the following questions:

1. Is crime the rational thing to do? What is ‚Rational Choice Theory‘ and how does it explain crime?
2. How do criminals communicate? How do they find ‚jobs‘ in the criminal market?
3. Is membership in mafia a criminal’s dream come true?
4. Why is kidnap for ransom so profitable?
5. Economics of War: Why do some radical groups use particularly violent, deadly practices?
6. Is prison the right way to control crime? Does it work?

The course is structured as a series of lectures, follow-up discussions, and activities. By the end of it, students should be able to see economics as a useful tool for analysing crime and develop new, unexpected ways to think about the behaviour of criminals (not how to become one)!