…Crime is primarily driven by personal gain, whereas terrorism is fundamentally a political act…. The kind of person most likely to become a terrorist is similar to the kind of person most likely to … vote. Think of Terrorism as civic passion on steroids (p 63).
In the chapter titled “Why Should Suicide Bombers Buy Life Insurance?”, the authors discuss terrorism: its purpose, the response to acts of terrorism, those most likely to become terrorists, and how economics can aid in identifying terrorists.
Banks can help identify terrorists by creating an algorithm that identifies traits typical of a terrorist, including: an account opened with cash or cash equivalents at a branch of a large well-known bank, a P.O Box address, a muslim first and last name, no savings account or safe deposit box and… no life insurance, among other things.
In the same chapter, the authors bring to light our dolefully inadequate hospitals, from their infection spreading architecture to tight vehicle access including an ambulance bay that can fit a few vehicles at a time to rooftop helipads handicapped by single elevator access. What would happen during a major disaster or attack (especially biological)? You can see that identifying terrorists before they strike is crucial.
* * * * *
Much like its predecessor, Freakonomics, this book is highly accessible (I have no economics background) and highly enjoyable. Of course, it raises more questions than it answers (especially if you sceptical of lab study results - and I am) but I definitely recommend it, as well as How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer.
Other chapters include: “How is a Street Prostitute like a Department Store Santa?”, “Unbelievable Stories about Apathy and Altruism”, “The Fix is in and it’s Cheap and Simple”, and “What do Al Gore and Mount Pinatubo have in Common?”.
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