High risk, high reward. Drug lords offer wealth, rich, or just a job, etc.
Look at people doing lottery, etc. Poor uneducated people tend to do it. If people are more educated, they will tend to avoid unnecessary risks (in part because stable jobs = eventual goal achievement).
> If people are more educated, they will tend to avoid unnecessary risks
I can assure you that education has nothing to do with it. Educated / better off people will take similiar risk/reward decisions just at different point of utility function.
What is different is that having a little more money gives you some breathing space and allows you to optimize risk/reward over longer term which usually is leading to smarter decisons.
I read a brief post by someone why made decent money smuggling drugs in a prop plane across the US. He only did it a couple of times (didn't let greed take over). He didn't go into details, but I imagine some people feel like they can mitigate the risk, or don't have much to lose.
I remember reading that you have 2 years max to make money and get out before your guaranteed to get busted. It was a fun book. Personally I wouldn't recommend the lifestyle choice.
Look at people doing lottery, etc. Poor uneducated people tend to do it. If people are more educated, they will tend to avoid unnecessary risks (in part because stable jobs = eventual goal achievement).