This is scientific Americans 60 second science. I'm Erica Berris. Got a minute? Turns out education pays off. That's true whether you're a doctor or a lawyer or even a mobster, according to a new study.

Researchers compared the FBI files of more than 700 Italian-American mafia men from the 30s to the 40s to

other non-Mob men from the 30s to the 40s to other non-Mob men from the 1940 census.

Some were neighbors, others were first and second generation Italian American immigrants,

and some were US-born white men.

They found that mobsters tended to have a and some were US-born white men.

They found that mobsters tended to have a year less of schooling

than their neighbors.

But for those who stayed in school a little longer,

they tended to do better economically.

More education increased their income or mula by about 8%

on average. The study is in the economics of education review. Of course this shouldn't

be surprising. The mafia is essentially a corporation involving

complex organizational and numerical expertise. Wayne Graham's and running numbers takes more

than basic math skills and

researchers found that mobsters with the highest return

were the ones involved with more complicated schemes.

Think embezzling, racketeering, and loan sharking. Their profit was about three times higher than

the mobsters involved with criminal activity, like robberies. So, study up. No matter what

you plan to do, it seems like the more you study, the bigger the payoff,

even if you ain't nothing but a wise guy.

Thanks for the minute.

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