[MSN] Using documents to gauge smuggled antiquities. Raymond Fishman and Shang-Jin Wei of Columbia University noticed a huge discrepancy in paperwork on shipped antiquities such as statues and mosaics depending on where it was filed.

[Museum Security Network Mailing list]

Jay Hancock's blog
Economic navigation and sightseeing< Power line decision was crucial -- and
inevitable | Main 

Using documents to gauge smuggled antiquities

This is a great paper. Raymond Fishman and Shang-Jin Wei of Columbia
University noticed a huge discrepancy in paperwork on shipped antiquities
such as statues and mosaics depending on where it was filed. In the source
country where objects were exported, paperwork was sparse because smugglers
often bribe customs officials. In the destination country where objects were
imported, paperwork was copious because nations such as the United States
require all kinds of documents and there is a presumption that the objects
are legal. 

The professors calculated a "reporting gap" in various source countries by
comparing destination paperwork with origination paperwork. Not
surprisingly, there was a high reporting gap in countries that are rich in
antique objects and are also highly corrupt. There is a cool scatter graph
showing how dozens of countries score, which I am unfortunately unable to
reproduce here. Biggest reporting gaps are in Syria, Iran, Egypt, Greece,
Vietnam and Russia. Canada, New Zealand, Britain and Hong Kong have low
reporting gaps. Norway has a surprisingly high one for a country with a low
corruption score.

This paper reminds me of the one Erik Lie did at the University of Iowa on
the uncanny correlation of executive stock-option dates with low prices in
stocks. A database analysis revealed striking patterns that implied
impropriety that upon further investigation proved to actually be
impropriety. The Columbia paper suggests that U.S. import officials need to
do a much better job of checking the provenance of antique objects.