Prob 6 4. Research by Walter Enders and Todd Sandler, The Political Economy of Terrorism (New York: Cambridge University Press), 2006, and David Wessel, “Princeton Economist Says Lack of Civil Liberties, Not Poverty, Breeds Terrorism,” Wall Street Journal, July 5, 2007, p. A2, suggests that terrorists are not spurred by poverty, but rather often are educated individuals who live in countries with a lack of civil liberties. These researchers treat terrorists as rational actors who maximize a set of goals subject to constrained resources.
Assume that terrorists can choose between nonviolent acts and violent acts. Draw a budget line and indifference curves that show where a utility maximizing combination of these activities would occur. Now suppose that the U.S. government can choose between two types of antiterrorism policies: (1) a defensive approach such as increased airport screenings, and (2) a proactive approach, which includes activities such as infiltrating terrorist cells and freezing bank assets. Analyze how these policies affect the budget line of terrorists and how it affects the utility-maximizing combination of terrorist activities.