“We do not negotiate with terrorists.” - Richard Nixon

Does it work? Depends on who you ask. https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/01/we-do-not-negotiate-ter... says that individuals (in the case of corporate ransomware - corporate entities) end up paying and not reporting the kidnapping:

“Historical evidence from Colombia and Italy shows that outlawing ransom payment has various adverse consequences.

Where ransom payments are illegal, victims’ families have no state support, while reporting of the kidnapping goes down and understanding of its prevalence is diminished.”