Citation

Discussion Paper Details

Please find the details for DP7995 in an easy to copy and paste format below:

Full Details   |   Bibliographic Reference

Full Details

Title: Economic Conditions and the Quality of Suicide Terrorism

Author(s): Efraim Benmelech, Claude Berrebi and Esteban F Klor

Publication Date: September 2010

Keyword(s): Economic Conditions, Quantity and Quality of Terrorism and Suicide Terrorists

Programme Area(s): Public Economics

Abstract: We analyze the link between economic conditions and the quality of suicide terrorism. While the existing empirical literature shows that poverty and economic conditions are not correlated with the quantity of terror, theory predicts that poverty and poor economic conditions may affect the quality of terror. Poor economic conditions may lead more able, better-educated individuals to participate in terror attacks, allowing terror organizations to send better-qualified terrorists to more complex, higher-impact, terror missions. Using the universe of Palestinian suicide terrorists against Israeli targets between the years 2000 and 2006 we provide evidence on the correlation between economic conditions, the characteristics of suicide terrorists and the targets they attack. High levels of unemployment enable terror organizations to recruit more educated, mature and experienced suicide terrorists who in turn attack more important Israeli targets.

For full details and related downloads, please visit: https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=7995

Bibliographic Reference

Benmelech, E, Berrebi, C and Klor, E. 2010. 'Economic Conditions and the Quality of Suicide Terrorism '. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=7995