Why we need to think more like economists to successfully combat terrorism

Alan Krueger was one of the most respected economists of his generation, advising two presidents and helping to instill greater empiricism in economics. In What Makes a Terrorist, he argues that if we are to correctly assess the root causes of terrorism and successfully address the threat, we must think more like economists do. Krueger examines the factors that motivate individuals to participate in terrorism, drawing inferences from their economic, social, religious, and political backgrounds. Many popular ideas about terrorists are fueled by falsehoods, misinformation, and fearmongering. This 10th anniversary edition of What Makes a Terrorist puts the threat squarely into perspective, bringing needed clarity to one of the greatest challenges of our generation.

About the Author
Alan B. Krueger (1960-2019) was the Bendheim Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University, former chairman of President Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, and chief economist of the US Department of Labor under President Bill Clinton. His books include Myth and Measurement (Princeton).

Reviews
"Pathbreaking."-David Leonhardt, New York Times
"The most careful data-driven research ever done in this area."-Steven D. Levitt, coauthor of Freakonomics
"Full of first-rate empirical work."-Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution
"The book provides a valuable service in dispelling the stereotype of the poor, ignorant terrorist."-Ethan Bueno de Mesquita, Science
"This book is a model of how academics can contribute to major public policy debates."-Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs
"[What Makes a Terrorist] enlists the 'dismal science' to tackle the despicable one. Provocative, dispassionate and accessible, Krueger's book is a breath of fresh air in the stifling climate of empty speculation that dominates the terror dialogue in post-9/11 America."-Ryan Hagen, Brooklyn Rail



Book Information
ISBN 9780691196077
Author Alan B. Krueger
Format Paperback
Page Count 232
Imprint Princeton University Press
Publisher Princeton University Press