Organized crime emerges out of the power vaccuum that is created by the absence of state enforcement, and which can have many sources: geographic, social, and ethnic distance, prohibition, or simply collapse of state institutions. Mafias and gangs are hierarchically organized and can be thought of as providing primitive state functions, with economic costs that are typically much higher than th...

Teenagers cruising up and down the main boulevard looking for fun and romance is nothing new. Started in the 1950s, cruising has since become entrenched in American society, where fancy cars are a status symbol. Glamorized by Hollywood in movies such as "American Graffiti, cruising has become a rite of passage for todays youths. Though enjoyable for teens, cruising has always been a problem for...