Italians Kiss Off the Mob.(Periscope; Organized Crime)(Brief article)

Byline: Barbie Nadeau

Muckraker Roberto Saviano is credited with bolstering Italy's recent anti-mafia momentum. Saviano, 28, infiltrated the Camorra in his hometown near Naples and scoured court records to research his best-selling novel, "Gomorrah." He provides damning evidence against the Neapolitan clans, naming people, businesses and extortionists. "Italy is making progress against the mafias, but it's not enough," he says. Crime syndicates still siphon the equivalent of 7 percent of Italy's GDP and divert nearly €90 billion from entering its legal economy. But while standing up to the mob used to be a fatal mistake, Italians are gaining confidence.

In Palermo, 106 stores now advertise mob-free ...