Just got done reading Chapter 3, and I'm noticing the theme of strange questions being asked in each chapter and then going into detail about answering the questions.
The whole story about the Black Gangster Disciple Nation and drug dealing was very interesting. The fact that Sudhir Venkatesh would go into those dangerous conditions to find that information was very courageous and showed that he was very interested in the topic. He did gather some very valuable information that few would venture to gather. If I was the teacher sending him into those conditions, I would feel very bad if anything happened to him.
I thought the whole ranking of the drug dealing business was interesting. The whole drug dealing propaganda is much more complicated and thought-out than I thought it was. There is actually a business-like structure to it. The amount of money that is brought in by drug dealing blew me away! J.T., the gang leader, was making $100,000 a year! I guess I can see why some would be tempted to come to the "dark side." J.T. had a college degree and still went to drug dealing. I suppose this works for people with a large hunger for money. I feel most people would not want to deal with the risk or guilt involved in this dangerous "profession."
I was wondering why anyone would actually want to deal drugs, as the threat of violence, jail time, or even death was very real. But it made sense after I read that those in the business are trying to work they're way up in a competitive industry made sense. The example of a high-school football player waking up at 5 a.m. to lift weights was a good one. It shows that even though, in both cases, the chances of making it to the top of the pyramid is low, the chance that it could happen drives those involved to continue what they are doing. It keeps them highly motivated. Perhaps that is why we are all in the MBA program: we are highly motivated in a competitive industry, and we want to separate ourselves from the pack. It is hard work, but in the end it is worth it.
3 comments:
It was pretty dangerous for Sudhir to gather the data; I know I would not have been as courageous to stay there for years. In fact, I am surprised the teacher actually did send him on that assignment just because of the liability.
I was also very surprised to see that they ran the drug dealing business like a corporation. I think J.T. has very good business skills, it’s a shame he wasn't putting them to use somewhere that would be prosperous for the economy
As the book explains, I think it all boils down to incentives and the conventional wisdom we have. We are all in the MBA program because we see it as a way of improving our careers, obtaining higher income, and expanding our capabilities. These are some of our incentives for being here.
The crack dealers, on the other hand, only seem to know a different set of incentives. They engage in the dangerous job of drug dealing despite the low pay and threat of death and incarceration because they see it as the only way to make it in life, higher up in the drug dealing organization.
Justin,
I agree with you that we are all getting more education in hopes of reaping the benefits later in life.
Just the other night, I was sitting in Starbucks (for 4.5 hours) outlining for one of my Law exams and I would glance up every now and then and watch people my age meeting with their friends and having a good time. I looked down and kept plowing down into the books, telling myself that all this work and giving up of my time now will be worth it in the end.
That seems to be the thought process with a lot of people out in the world, like the drug dealer and football player that you mentioned.
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