FWIW, the Mafia in the US became a more institutional, more professional organization with the formation of "The Commission" in 1931 -- i.e., during the Great Depression:
I wonder if prolonged economic downturns are somehow correlated with, or maybe even lead to, the rise of more powerful, more professional crime organizations...?
The US Italian mafia has been effectively been neutered since Gotti. Most of the modern powerful people got busted by RICO. In the US today, the most powerful are the Italians, Russians and the Mexican 'mafias'. The most influential may be from Mexico because the wars have spilled over across the border and they are the largest supplier of marijuana.
The truth is, at least with the Italian mafia, that the greatest success of the Italian mafia occurred during WWII. The CIA depended on them to provide them with information regarding Italy because Mussolini worked against mafia interests and Allies. It wasn't until the Kennedys took office that they heavily went after the mafia.
During wars it is known, at least in the US at that time and probably today, that it creates a healthy economy.
The reason why you see the economic downturns of today is because most Congressmen pass laws with loopholes. There was a time when a CEO didn't live in a lavish mansion over his employees. They managed their selfishness better back then. Today, most live in secluded areas so they don't have to deal with that harsh reality.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Commission_%28mafia%29
The New York Times calls 1931 the "birth of the American Mafia:" http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/opinion/23raab.html
I wonder if prolonged economic downturns are somehow correlated with, or maybe even lead to, the rise of more powerful, more professional crime organizations...?