i want to hear the why, why he builds these schools. And of course, terrorist organizations. Just think about escobar and and am andand soma bin laden is antrepanurs. They need a safe haven from which to operate. And so they provide social services and social benefits, which increases loyalty and deters defection. It's that simple. I don't know his heart and soul, but it might make him feel good to walk down the streets and and be hailed as a hero. But it also allows him the freedom to operate a global criminal enterprise without, you know, with a nice quality life in which he's not really hiding around in the run.
Economist and author Gary Shiffman of Georgetown University talks about his book, The Economics of Violence, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Shiffman argues that we should view terrorism, insurgency, and crime as being less about ideology and more about personal expression and entrepreneurship. He argues that approaching these problems as economists gives us better tools for fighting them.