Princeton Economist: No Causation Between Terrorism and Poverty

Princeton economist Alan Krueger has come to the conclusion that poverty is not what breeds terrorism, but rather a lack of civil liberties.

From the Wall Street Journal:

"There is no evidence of a general tendency for impoverished or uneducated people to be more likely to support terrorism or join terrorist organizations than their higher-income, better-educated countrymen.... The evidence is nearly unanimous in rejecting either material deprivation or inadequate education as an important cause of support for terrorism or of participation in terrorist activities." Mr. Krueger asserts."

So poor people are no more likely to support or join terrorist activities than those who are rich. But how does poverty affect complacency? Does poverty create a situation where terrorist activities are more likely to be tolerated, as opposed to supported? The article doesn't answer that question, unfortunately. It does, however, offer this:

So what is the cause? Suppression of civil liberties and political rights, Mr. Krueger hypothesizes. "When nonviolent means of protest are curtailed," he says, "malcontents appear to be more likely to turn to terrorist tactics."

Hey, Terrorists! Regime change begins at home, don't you know?!