Economics of Money Laundering: A Primer

Paolo Baffi Centre Bocconi University Working Paper No. 171

22 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2007

See all articles by Donato Masciandaro

Donato Masciandaro

Bocconi University - Department of Economics; Bocconi University - Department of Economics (ECO)

Abstract

Only in recent times has economic analysis developed a special focus on financial issues related to the study of criminal activity, thus far completely absent in the literature. The basic theoretical reason lies in the absence of special treatment of monetary and financial aspects within the traditional Becker model.In this paper I discuss a simple but hopefully useful frame-work to understand the mechanisms of money laundering. I will show how, from a microeconomic point of view, money laundering performs an illegal monetary function, responding to the overall demand for black finance services, expressed by individuals or groups that have committed income-producing crimes. The micro foundations of money laundering allow us to shed light on its macroeconomic effects (the money laundering multipler).

Keywords: money laundering, microfoundations, multiplier

JEL Classification: F2, G3

Suggested Citation

Masciandaro, Donato, Economics of Money Laundering: A Primer. Paolo Baffi Centre Bocconi University Working Paper No. 171, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=970184 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.970184

Donato Masciandaro (Contact Author)

Bocconi University - Department of Economics ( email )

Via Gobbi 5
Milan, 20136
Italy

Bocconi University - Department of Economics (ECO) ( email )

Via Gobbi 5
Milan, 20136
Italy

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