Confronting a Kidnap Economist on Mafia Ransoms | Ep. 651

Anja Shortland is a professor of political economy at King’s College, London who specializes in the economics of crime. She is the author of Kidnap: Inside the Ransom Business and Lost Art: The Art Loss Register Casebook Volume One.

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Full show notes can be found here: https://jordanharbinger.com/651

What We Discuss with Anja:
0:00 - Intro
0:16 - Kidnapping is a business
15:12 - The time Jordan's friend got kidnapped by amateurs
18:11 - Protection theory: Why mafia kidnapping is non-lethal
23:30 - The time the mafia protected Jordan and his friend
28:43 - Kidnapping insurance's value
35:40 - Kidnapped by Somali pirates
42:41 - The psychology of hostage negotiation
57:29 - How social media could make you a juicy kidnapping target

If you or someone you love were kidnapped and held for ransom, how much could the kidnappers hope to get for letting you go? It’s a question you hope you’ll never have to seriously ponder, but kidnap for ransom is a common enough “business” that a group of insurers at Lloyd’s of London offers kidnap insurance to people who are particularly at risk of being abducted. (Not that Jordan “Twice Kidnapped” Harbinger would consider himself among them.)

In this episode, we’re joined by Kidnap: Inside the Ransom Business author Anja Shortland, a professor of political economy at King’s College, London who specializes in the economics of crime. Here, we discuss how kidnapping is a self-regulating criminal enterprise that operates alongside legitimate insurance companies and professionals who negotiate the safe release of hostages. Prepare yourself for a rare glimpse into the world of kidnap insurance, piracy, hostage negotiation, and the strange system of incentives that keep hostages and property safe — even in the hands of seemingly irrational criminals. Listen, learn, and enjoy!

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