I’ve been thinking a lot about M&Ms do you like M&Ms I brought a big batch
do you like M&Ms I brought a big batch
do you like M&Ms I brought a big batch of them today and I’d like to share some
of them today and I’d like to share some
of them today and I’d like to share some of them with you if I could if if you’d
of them with you if I could if if you’d
of them with you if I could if if you’d be willing to play a little game with me
be willing to play a little game with me
be willing to play a little game with me I know that teryn told you to turn off
I know that teryn told you to turn off
I know that teryn told you to turn off your phones but if I could get you to
your phones but if I could get you to
your phones but if I could get you to turn them back on just for a moment we
turn them back on just for a moment we
turn them back on just for a moment we can play a little bit of game little
can play a little bit of game little
can play a little bit of game little game together with M&Ms as the reward
game together with M&Ms as the reward
game together with M&Ms as the reward here’s the game that I’d like you to
here’s the game that I’d like you to
here’s the game that I’d like you to play today I’d like you to choose a
play today I’d like you to choose a
play today I’d like you to choose a signature color one of two colors you
signature color one of two colors you
signature color one of two colors you can choose red or you can choose green
can choose red or you can choose green
can choose red or you can choose green and a number of M&Ms that you’re going
and a number of M&Ms that you’re going
and a number of M&Ms that you’re going to receive depends on your choice of
to receive depends on your choice of
to receive depends on your choice of signature color after everybody has sent
signature color after everybody has sent
signature color after everybody has sent in by telephone their signature color
in by telephone their signature color
in by telephone their signature color I’m simply going to add up the number of
I’m simply going to add up the number of
I’m simply going to add up the number of people who chose red and everybody who
people who chose red and everybody who
people who chose red and everybody who chose red will get exactly that number
chose red will get exactly that number
chose red will get exactly that number of M&Ms
of M&Ms
of M&Ms so if 20 of the people in the 100 member
so if 20 of the people in the 100 member
so if 20 of the people in the 100 member audience choose red those 20 Reds will
audience choose red those 20 Reds will
audience choose red those 20 Reds will receive 20 M&Ms what about the greens if
receive 20 M&Ms what about the greens if
receive 20 M&Ms what about the greens if you choose green I’m going to give you
you choose green I’m going to give you
you choose green I’m going to give you exactly the same number of M&Ms as I
exactly the same number of M&Ms as I
exactly the same number of M&Ms as I gave the Reds but then I’m going to give
gave the Reds but then I’m going to give
gave the Reds but then I’m going to give you an extra 20 M&Ms
you an extra 20 M&Ms
you an extra 20 M&Ms so if 20 of you in the audience choose
so if 20 of you in the audience choose
so if 20 of you in the audience choose red and 80 choose green the Reds will
red and 80 choose green the Reds will
red and 80 choose green the Reds will receive 20 M&Ms and the greens will
receive 20 M&Ms and the greens will
receive 20 M&Ms and the greens will receive 40 have you given some thought
receive 40 have you given some thought
receive 40 have you given some thought to your choice of signature color once
to your choice of signature color once
to your choice of signature color once you have there’s a number on the screen
you have there’s a number on the screen
you have there’s a number on the screen you can simply text the word red or the
you can simply text the word red or the
you can simply text the word red or the word green to the number on the screen
word green to the number on the screen
word green to the number on the screen and I’ve got a friend who’s gonna
and I’ve got a friend who’s gonna
and I’ve got a friend who’s gonna tabulate these and will report back on
tabulate these and will report back on
tabulate these and will report back on how you did a little bit later in the
how you did a little bit later in the
how you did a little bit later in the presentation
I like M&Ms too I stopped on my way here
I like M&Ms too I stopped on my way here and bought a package of M&Ms peanut M&Ms
and bought a package of M&Ms peanut M&Ms
and bought a package of M&Ms peanut M&Ms my favorite the best kind I think they
my favorite the best kind I think they
my favorite the best kind I think they cost me a dollar I walked into the store
cost me a dollar I walked into the store
cost me a dollar I walked into the store I found the M&Ms I gave the clerk gave
I found the M&Ms I gave the clerk gave
I found the M&Ms I gave the clerk gave my dollar I walked away happy I valued
my dollar I walked away happy I valued
my dollar I walked away happy I valued the M&Ms more than the dollar
the M&Ms more than the dollar
the M&Ms more than the dollar the clerk valued the dollar more than
the clerk valued the dollar more than
the clerk valued the dollar more than the M&Ms we know that we both materially
the M&Ms we know that we both materially
the M&Ms we know that we both materially benefited from this transaction because
benefited from this transaction because
benefited from this transaction because at the end of it
at the end of it
at the end of it we both said thank you transactions like
we both said thank you transactions like
we both said thank you transactions like these happen millions of times every day
these happen millions of times every day
these happen millions of times every day they’re commonplace they’re completely
they’re commonplace they’re completely
they’re commonplace they’re completely non-controversial we don’t give them a
non-controversial we don’t give them a
non-controversial we don’t give them a second thought and yet there are other
second thought and yet there are other
second thought and yet there are other times when the pursuit of material
times when the pursuit of material
times when the pursuit of material self-interest causes outcomes that many
self-interest causes outcomes that many
self-interest causes outcomes that many people view as problematic these
people view as problematic these
people view as problematic these controversial outcomes or their
controversial outcomes or their
controversial outcomes or their controversial solutions actually present
controversial solutions actually present
controversial solutions actually present some of society’s biggest and most
some of society’s biggest and most
some of society’s biggest and most vexing problems climate change
vexing problems climate change
vexing problems climate change overfishing depletion of the rainforests
overfishing depletion of the rainforests
overfishing depletion of the rainforests fracking basic income healthcare clean
fracking basic income healthcare clean
fracking basic income healthcare clean energy gun control segregation epidemics
these problems are some of the biggest
these problems are some of the biggest problems that we face they are problems
problems that we face they are problems
problems that we face they are problems that we have been unable to find clean
that we have been unable to find clean
that we have been unable to find clean workable solutions to in many instances
workable solutions to in many instances
workable solutions to in many instances sometimes for decades or hundreds of
sometimes for decades or hundreds of
sometimes for decades or hundreds of years and yet they all share a similar
years and yet they all share a similar
years and yet they all share a similar feature they are all examples of what
feature they are all examples of what
feature they are all examples of what economists call collective action
economists call collective action
economists call collective action problems collective action problems are
problems collective action problems are
problems collective action problems are problems that are going to require the
problems that are going to require the
problems that are going to require the coordinated efforts of large numbers of
coordinated efforts of large numbers of
coordinated efforts of large numbers of people to solve I know that many of us
people to solve I know that many of us
people to solve I know that many of us have worked in groups as small as two or
have worked in groups as small as two or
have worked in groups as small as two or three or four and found that group
three or four and found that group
three or four and found that group workings aspirating it’s really hard to
workings aspirating it’s really hard to
workings aspirating it’s really hard to get three people to work together for a
get three people to work together for a
get three people to work together for a common purpose these problems are going
common purpose these problems are going
common purpose these problems are going to require not two or three or four P
to require not two or three or four P
to require not two or three or four P to work together but two or three or
to work together but two or three or
to work together but two or three or four hundred million people to work
four hundred million people to work
four hundred million people to work together it’s no wonder we haven’t come
together it’s no wonder we haven’t come
together it’s no wonder we haven’t come to a solution for these these issues are
to a solution for these these issues are
to a solution for these these issues are also heavily politicized I worked once
also heavily politicized I worked once
also heavily politicized I worked once at a university that had a dedicated
at a university that had a dedicated
at a university that had a dedicated recycling coordinator this was his job
recycling coordinator this was his job
recycling coordinator this was his job to make sure everybody recycled and late
to make sure everybody recycled and late
to make sure everybody recycled and late at night once a week he would use his
at night once a week he would use his
at night once a week he would use his passkey and enter faculty and staff
passkey and enter faculty and staff
passkey and enter faculty and staff offices long after everybody had gone
offices long after everybody had gone
offices long after everybody had gone home and he’d start searching through
home and he’d start searching through
home and he’d start searching through trash cans and when he came to the first
trash cans and when he came to the first
trash cans and when he came to the first trash can that didn’t have any
trash can that didn’t have any
trash can that didn’t have any recyclable materials in it the owner of
recyclable materials in it the owner of
recyclable materials in it the owner of that trash can
that trash can
that trash can would receive a recycler of the Week
would receive a recycler of the Week
would receive a recycler of the Week award and they’d be written up in the
award and they’d be written up in the
award and they’d be written up in the faculty and a staff newsletter along
faculty and a staff newsletter along
faculty and a staff newsletter along with a little blurb why they recycled
with a little blurb why they recycled
with a little blurb why they recycled and the most common answer was because
and the most common answer was because
and the most common answer was because recycling is the right thing to do but
recycling is the right thing to do but
recycling is the right thing to do but I’d like to point out that choosing
I’d like to point out that choosing
I’d like to point out that choosing whether to use a piece of paper over
whether to use a piece of paper over
whether to use a piece of paper over again is really fundamentally an
again is really fundamentally an
again is really fundamentally an economic question not really a moral
economic question not really a moral
economic question not really a moral question that putting your paper in the
question that putting your paper in the
question that putting your paper in the black bin doesn’t make you bad or evil
black bin doesn’t make you bad or evil
black bin doesn’t make you bad or evil and putting it in the blue bin doesn’t
and putting it in the blue bin doesn’t
and putting it in the blue bin doesn’t make you a saint or a savior this really
make you a saint or a savior this really
make you a saint or a savior this really is just an economic question and it’s
is just an economic question and it’s
is just an economic question and it’s not the only economic question that is
not the only economic question that is
not the only economic question that is somehow become imbued with all kinds of
somehow become imbued with all kinds of
somehow become imbued with all kinds of moral content that has been politicized
moral content that has been politicized
moral content that has been politicized in some way shape or form many most all
in some way shape or form many most all
in some way shape or form many most all of the issues that we looked at just a
of the issues that we looked at just a
of the issues that we looked at just a few minutes ago have been heavily
few minutes ago have been heavily
few minutes ago have been heavily politicized well what’s the problem with
politicized well what’s the problem with
politicized well what’s the problem with politicizing an issue politics matter I
politicizing an issue politics matter I
politicizing an issue politics matter I think the problem is that when we
think the problem is that when we
think the problem is that when we politicize an issue we lose completely
politicize an issue we lose completely
politicize an issue we lose completely our ability to think rationally and
our ability to think rationally and
our ability to think rationally and objectively about the nature of the
objectively about the nature of the
objectively about the nature of the problem or the nature of that problem
problem or the nature of that problem
problem or the nature of that problem solution instead we tend to cling to our
solution instead we tend to cling to our
solution instead we tend to cling to our political anchor and we refuse to
political anchor and we refuse to
political anchor and we refuse to objectively look at all points of view
objectively look at all points of view
objectively look at all points of view one way in which this happens
one way in which this happens
one way in which this happens is what psychologists call confirmation
is what psychologists call confirmation
is what psychologists call confirmation bias this simply means that we will take
bias this simply means that we will take
bias this simply means that we will take in information that agrees with our own
in information that agrees with our own
in information that agrees with our own moral philosophy and will simply refuse
moral philosophy and will simply refuse
moral philosophy and will simply refuse to take in information that does not in
to take in information that does not in
to take in information that does not in a recent study participants were
a recent study participants were
a recent study participants were presented with biographies of real
presented with biographies of real
presented with biographies of real scientists along with summaries of their
scientists along with summaries of their
scientists along with summaries of their public published research and then they
public published research and then they
public published research and then they were asked whether the scientists were
were asked whether the scientists were
were asked whether the scientists were experts in their field or not and
experts in their field or not and
experts in their field or not and unwaveringly individuals with strong
unwaveringly individuals with strong
unwaveringly individuals with strong political inclinations would qualify as
political inclinations would qualify as
political inclinations would qualify as experts those scientists whose research
experts those scientists whose research
experts those scientists whose research agreed with their own political priors
agreed with their own political priors
agreed with their own political priors but they would refuse to endorse as
but they would refuse to endorse as
but they would refuse to endorse as expert scientists whose published
expert scientists whose published
expert scientists whose published research peer reviewed research
research peer reviewed research
research peer reviewed research disagreed with their own political
disagreed with their own political
disagreed with their own political beliefs so when we look at information
beliefs so when we look at information
beliefs so when we look at information we will take an information that agrees
we will take an information that agrees
we will take an information that agrees with our own inner expert but we will
with our own inner expert but we will
with our own inner expert but we will reject information we’ll simply refuse
reject information we’ll simply refuse
reject information we’ll simply refuse to think about it
to think about it
to think about it if it doesn’t agree with us but what
if it doesn’t agree with us but what
if it doesn’t agree with us but what happens if we actually force people to
happens if we actually force people to
happens if we actually force people to take in information that is counter to
take in information that is counter to
take in information that is counter to their own political priors in the
their own political priors in the
their own political priors in the election of 2004 researchers strapped
election of 2004 researchers strapped
election of 2004 researchers strapped study participants into functional
study participants into functional
study participants into functional magnetic resonance imaging machinery and
magnetic resonance imaging machinery and
magnetic resonance imaging machinery and this is a machine that simply Maps
this is a machine that simply Maps
this is a machine that simply Maps brainwave activity in different parts of
brainwave activity in different parts of
brainwave activity in different parts of the brain and these participants were
the brain and these participants were
the brain and these participants were diehard party loyalists was the clear
diehard party loyalists was the clear
diehard party loyalists was the clear favorite candidate and while they were
favorite candidate and while they were
favorite candidate and while they were strapped to this machine they were fed
strapped to this machine they were fed
strapped to this machine they were fed information that was potentially
information that was potentially
information that was potentially damaging to their candidates chances of
damaging to their candidates chances of
damaging to their candidates chances of winning the election and what the
winning the election and what the
winning the election and what the researchers running the study found was
researchers running the study found was
researchers running the study found was really pretty compelling because when
really pretty compelling because when
really pretty compelling because when presented with this potentially damaging
presented with this potentially damaging
presented with this potentially damaging information the part of the brain that
information the part of the brain that
information the part of the brain that was devoted to emotion lit up like the
was devoted to emotion lit up like the
was devoted to emotion lit up like the fourth of July and the part of the brain
fourth of July and the part of the brain
fourth of July and the part of the brain that was devoted to reason showed
that was devoted to reason showed
that was devoted to reason showed virtually no response at all in other
virtually no response at all in other
virtually no response at all in other words when we’re presented with
words when we’re presented with
words when we’re presented with information that doesn’t agree with our
information that doesn’t agree with our
information that doesn’t agree with our political priors we will simply refuse
political priors we will simply refuse
political priors we will simply refuse to take it in but if somebody forces you
to take it in but if somebody forces you
to take it in but if somebody forces you to take in that information your brain
to take in that information your brain
to take in that information your brain will leap to your defense and simply
will leap to your defense and simply
will leap to your defense and simply used to process it but what happens if
used to process it but what happens if
used to process it but what happens if we force your brain to process this
we force your brain to process this
we force your brain to process this information recently a group of study
information recently a group of study
information recently a group of study participants were tested for
participants were tested for
participants were tested for mathematical ability by being asked to
mathematical ability by being asked to
mathematical ability by being asked to evaluate the effectiveness of a new rash
evaluate the effectiveness of a new rash
evaluate the effectiveness of a new rash cream later those very same participants
cream later those very same participants
cream later those very same participants were presented with exactly the same
were presented with exactly the same
were presented with exactly the same numbers exactly the same mathematical
numbers exactly the same mathematical
numbers exactly the same mathematical problem but instead of looking at a rash
problem but instead of looking at a rash
problem but instead of looking at a rash cream this problem was dressed up in
cream this problem was dressed up in
cream this problem was dressed up in different packaging instead of
different packaging instead of
different packaging instead of evaluating the effectiveness of a rash
evaluating the effectiveness of a rash
evaluating the effectiveness of a rash cream they were asked to evaluate the
cream they were asked to evaluate the
cream they were asked to evaluate the effectiveness of a gun control program
effectiveness of a gun control program
effectiveness of a gun control program on reducing crime and here the answers
on reducing crime and here the answers
on reducing crime and here the answers the mathematical answers that our
the mathematical answers that our
the mathematical answers that our participants generated depended
participants generated depended
participants generated depended critically on the respondents political
critically on the respondents political
critically on the respondents political inclinations self-identified liberals
inclinations self-identified liberals
inclinations self-identified liberals were very quick and accurate in
were very quick and accurate in
were very quick and accurate in computing the effectiveness of a program
computing the effectiveness of a program
computing the effectiveness of a program when it showed that gun control reduced
when it showed that gun control reduced
when it showed that gun control reduced crime and yet they made frequent errors
crime and yet they made frequent errors
crime and yet they made frequent errors when presented with an alternative
when presented with an alternative
when presented with an alternative version of the problem that showed that
version of the problem that showed that
version of the problem that showed that gun control had no impact on crime
gun control had no impact on crime
gun control had no impact on crime conservatives made exactly the same
conservatives made exactly the same
conservatives made exactly the same mistake but they made it in Reverse and
mistake but they made it in Reverse and
mistake but they made it in Reverse and oddly enough ironically the better
oddly enough ironically the better
oddly enough ironically the better people were at solving the rash cream
people were at solving the rash cream
people were at solving the rash cream version of the problem the worse they
version of the problem the worse they
version of the problem the worse they were at solving the gun control problem
were at solving the gun control problem
were at solving the gun control problem when the answer was one that disagreed
when the answer was one that disagreed
when the answer was one that disagreed with their own political priors
with their own political priors
with their own political priors in other words politics makes us stupid
in other words politics makes us stupid
in other words politics makes us stupid three times over the theme of this TEDx
three times over the theme of this TEDx
three times over the theme of this TEDx conference is reflection how perceptions
conference is reflection how perceptions
conference is reflection how perceptions evolve and unfortunately I’ve got bad
evolve and unfortunately I’ve got bad
evolve and unfortunately I’ve got bad news for you when it comes to
news for you when it comes to
news for you when it comes to politicized issues our perceptions do
politicized issues our perceptions do
politicized issues our perceptions do not evolve they remain chained to the
not evolve they remain chained to the
not evolve they remain chained to the foundations my job is to teach college
foundations my job is to teach college
foundations my job is to teach college freshmen about big-ticket social
freshmen about big-ticket social
freshmen about big-ticket social problems my students are bright they’re
problems my students are bright they’re
problems my students are bright they’re disciplined they’re very impassioned but
disciplined they’re very impassioned but
disciplined they’re very impassioned but I worry sometimes that the passion that
I worry sometimes that the passion that
I worry sometimes that the passion that inspires them is also
inspires them is also
inspires them is also interfering with their ability to think
interfering with their ability to think
interfering with their ability to think critically about real-world hard to
critically about real-world hard to
critically about real-world hard to solve politicized social problems so how
solve politicized social problems so how
solve politicized social problems so how can we get college freshmen and how can
can we get college freshmen and how can
can we get college freshmen and how can we get our friends and our neighbors to
we get our friends and our neighbors to
we get our friends and our neighbors to think critically about social problems
think critically about social problems
think critically about social problems to think objectively about them to see
to think objectively about them to see
to think objectively about them to see that there’s more than one side to every
that there’s more than one side to every
that there’s more than one side to every issue and the answer I think is to strip
issue and the answer I think is to strip
issue and the answer I think is to strip away all of the political packaging
away all of the political packaging
away all of the political packaging around a problem and really just look at
around a problem and really just look at
around a problem and really just look at the core of the problem itself you can
the core of the problem itself you can
the core of the problem itself you can think about this process as kind of rash
think about this process as kind of rash
think about this process as kind of rash cream for college students the tool that
cream for college students the tool that
cream for college students the tool that economists used to do this to analyze
economists used to do this to analyze
economists used to do this to analyze these big-ticket collective action
these big-ticket collective action
these big-ticket collective action problems is called game theory game
problems is called game theory game
problems is called game theory game theory is the science of individual
theory is the science of individual
theory is the science of individual strategic interactions with one another
strategic interactions with one another
strategic interactions with one another game theory is particularly useful
game theory is particularly useful
game theory is particularly useful because it lets us look at individuals
because it lets us look at individuals
because it lets us look at individuals motivations and yet we get the chance to
motivations and yet we get the chance to
motivations and yet we get the chance to add individuals up and look at the
add individuals up and look at the
add individuals up and look at the collective outcome they produce
collective outcome they produce
collective outcome they produce economists and mathematician can bend
economists and mathematician can bend
economists and mathematician can bend more writes that the more deeply we feel
more writes that the more deeply we feel
more writes that the more deeply we feel about issues the more we need to avoid
about issues the more we need to avoid
about issues the more we need to avoid being misled by wishful thinking game
being misled by wishful thinking game
being misled by wishful thinking game theory lets us discuss the logic of
theory lets us discuss the logic of
theory lets us discuss the logic of strategic action dispassionately it then
strategic action dispassionately it then
strategic action dispassionately it then becomes possible to follow the logic
becomes possible to follow the logic
becomes possible to follow the logic wherever it leads us without throwing up
wherever it leads us without throwing up
wherever it leads us without throwing up our hands and denial when it takes us
our hands and denial when it takes us
our hands and denial when it takes us somewhere we’d rather not go I’d like to
somewhere we’d rather not go I’d like to
somewhere we’d rather not go I’d like to talk to you for just a moment about the
talk to you for just a moment about the
talk to you for just a moment about the collective action game you’ve played at
collective action game you’ve played at
collective action game you’ve played at the beginning of my talk you were asked
the beginning of my talk you were asked
the beginning of my talk you were asked remember to choose a signature color and
remember to choose a signature color and
remember to choose a signature color and you can choose red and receive just as
you can choose red and receive just as
you can choose red and receive just as many Reds as all the other Reds in the
many Reds as all the other Reds in the
many Reds as all the other Reds in the room or you could choose green and
room or you could choose green and
room or you could choose green and receive 20 more mm than all your red
receive 20 more mm than all your red
receive 20 more mm than all your red counterparts I now have results from
counterparts I now have results from
counterparts I now have results from that 14 of you in the audience chose red
that 14 of you in the audience chose red
that 14 of you in the audience chose red everybody else chose green I want to
everybody else chose green I want to
everybody else chose green I want to point out but this is a really bad
point out but this is a really bad
point out but this is a really bad outcome for ever
outcome for ever
outcome for ever buddy those of you that chose red are
buddy those of you that chose red are
buddy those of you that chose red are gonna walk away with 14 M&Ms those of
gonna walk away with 14 M&Ms those of
gonna walk away with 14 M&Ms those of you that choose green are going to walk
you that choose green are going to walk
you that choose green are going to walk away with 34 M&Ms and if only you could
away with 34 M&Ms and if only you could
away with 34 M&Ms and if only you could have coordinated with one another and
have coordinated with one another and
have coordinated with one another and work together all 100 of you could have
work together all 100 of you could have
work together all 100 of you could have chosen red and everybody could have
chosen red and everybody could have
chosen red and everybody could have walked away with a hundred M&Ms this is
walked away with a hundred M&Ms this is
walked away with a hundred M&Ms this is a collective action problem that has
a collective action problem that has
a collective action problem that has been stripped of all political context
been stripped of all political context
been stripped of all political context red is not good Green is not evil the
red is not good Green is not evil the
red is not good Green is not evil the Reds and the greens all want the same
Reds and the greens all want the same
Reds and the greens all want the same thing they all want more mmm and what
thing they all want more mmm and what
thing they all want more mmm and what looking at a problem like the red-green
looking at a problem like the red-green
looking at a problem like the red-green problem does for us it’s it lets us
problem does for us it’s it lets us
problem does for us it’s it lets us focus on the core structure of the
focus on the core structure of the
focus on the core structure of the problem the fact that we have an
problem the fact that we have an
problem the fact that we have an individual incentive to choose green and
individual incentive to choose green and
individual incentive to choose green and get the 20 extra M&Ms but we have a
get the 20 extra M&Ms but we have a
get the 20 extra M&Ms but we have a collective interest in choosing red and
collective interest in choosing red and
collective interest in choosing red and building a big foundation of M&Ms that
building a big foundation of M&Ms that
building a big foundation of M&Ms that everybody can enjoy because M&Ms
everybody can enjoy because M&Ms
everybody can enjoy because M&Ms are happiness and instead of focusing on
are happiness and instead of focusing on
are happiness and instead of focusing on all of these issues on power on ideology
all of these issues on power on ideology
all of these issues on power on ideology on left/right distinctions Republicans
on left/right distinctions Republicans
on left/right distinctions Republicans and Democrats or even moral and immoral
and Democrats or even moral and immoral
and Democrats or even moral and immoral we need to focus on the true nature of
we need to focus on the true nature of
we need to focus on the true nature of the problem the tension in so many of
the problem the tension in so many of
the problem the tension in so many of our economic decisions between what’s
our economic decisions between what’s
our economic decisions between what’s good for the individual and what’s good
good for the individual and what’s good
good for the individual and what’s good for all the people around that
for all the people around that
for all the people around that individual right it’s the structure of
individual right it’s the structure of
individual right it’s the structure of that kind of problem that is at the
that kind of problem that is at the
that kind of problem that is at the heart of all of these collective action
heart of all of these collective action
heart of all of these collective action problems it’s just that a lot of us
problems it’s just that a lot of us
problems it’s just that a lot of us don’t know it so I wanted to talk now
don’t know it so I wanted to talk now
don’t know it so I wanted to talk now about how we can take this red green
about how we can take this red green
about how we can take this red green simulation this red green game and make
simulation this red green game and make
simulation this red green game and make it useful to shed new light on some of
it useful to shed new light on some of
it useful to shed new light on some of our big-ticket social problems in my
our big-ticket social problems in my
our big-ticket social problems in my classes we start by taking the red green
classes we start by taking the red green
classes we start by taking the red green problem and playing it over and over and
problem and playing it over and over and
problem and playing it over and over and over again and I have to tell you you
over again and I have to tell you you
over again and I have to tell you you guys actually did a much better job than
guys actually did a much better job than
guys actually did a much better job than my students usually out of every 100
my students usually out of every 100
my students usually out of every 100 students I’ll get 7 who choose red and
students I’ll get 7 who choose red and
students I’ll get 7 who choose red and 93 who choose green but it’s still a
93 who choose green but it’s still a
93 who choose green but it’s still a really lousy outcome and practice
really lousy outcome and practice
really lousy outcome and practice doesn’t make perfect they play this game
doesn’t make perfect they play this game
doesn’t make perfect they play this game over
over
over over and over and they rarely do any
over and over and they rarely do any
over and over and they rarely do any better so by the time we get ready to
better so by the time we get ready to
better so by the time we get ready to study real issues they have some
study real issues they have some
study real issues they have some background about collective action
background about collective action
background about collective action problems and then once they understand
problems and then once they understand
problems and then once they understand this tension between individual and
this tension between individual and
this tension between individual and collective interest then the fun begins
collective interest then the fun begins
collective interest then the fun begins because we get to unwrap the red/green
because we get to unwrap the red/green
because we get to unwrap the red/green problem and take away the M&Ms and then
problem and take away the M&Ms and then
problem and take away the M&Ms and then rewrap it into things that students
rewrap it into things that students
rewrap it into things that students really do care about
really do care about
really do care about we simply repackage the problem with
we simply repackage the problem with
we simply repackage the problem with context add the context back keeping a
context add the context back keeping a
context add the context back keeping a small fish green is good for a fisherman
small fish green is good for a fisherman
small fish green is good for a fisherman returning it to the lakes in the oceans
returning it to the lakes in the oceans
returning it to the lakes in the oceans red helps rebuild the sustainability of
red helps rebuild the sustainability of
red helps rebuild the sustainability of the fishery carrying a gun for personal
the fishery carrying a gun for personal
the fishery carrying a gun for personal protection may help an individual that’s
protection may help an individual that’s
protection may help an individual that’s green leaving it locked at home in a
green leaving it locked at home in a
green leaving it locked at home in a cabinet may prevent potential gun
cabinet may prevent potential gun
cabinet may prevent potential gun violence that’s read tariffs on imported
violence that’s read tariffs on imported
violence that’s read tariffs on imported sugar are really good for American sugar
sugar are really good for American sugar
sugar are really good for American sugar producers Green free trade in sugar is
producers Green free trade in sugar is
producers Green free trade in sugar is good for consumers red burning coal
good for consumers red burning coal
good for consumers red burning coal ironically is good for power companies
ironically is good for power companies
ironically is good for power companies this is ironically green alternative
this is ironically green alternative
this is ironically green alternative energy is good for the atmosphere in the
energy is good for the atmosphere in the
energy is good for the atmosphere in the air that we breathe red I got my flu
air that we breathe red I got my flu
air that we breathe red I got my flu shot yesterday avoiding a painful
shot yesterday avoiding a painful
shot yesterday avoiding a painful vaccination is good for the individual
vaccination is good for the individual
vaccination is good for the individual receiving a vaccination is good for
receiving a vaccination is good for
receiving a vaccination is good for everybody that individual comes in
everybody that individual comes in
everybody that individual comes in contact with red green can help us shed
contact with red green can help us shed
contact with red green can help us shed some light on these big-ticket social
some light on these big-ticket social
some light on these big-ticket social problems less really can be more can
problems less really can be more can
problems less really can be more can bend more rights that the crucial step
bend more rights that the crucial step
bend more rights that the crucial step in solving a real-life problem nearly
in solving a real-life problem nearly
in solving a real-life problem nearly always consists of locating a toy game
always consists of locating a toy game
always consists of locating a toy game that lies at its heart only when that
that lies at its heart only when that
that lies at its heart only when that toy game has been solved does it make
toy game has been solved does it make
toy game has been solved does it make sense to worry about how its solution
sense to worry about how its solution
sense to worry about how its solution needs to be modified to take account of
needs to be modified to take account of
needs to be modified to take account of all the bells and whistles that
all the bells and whistles that
all the bells and whistles that complicate the real world the real-life
complicate the real world the real-life
complicate the real world the real-life problems that we have
problems that we have
problems that we have looked at today are not going to be easy
looked at today are not going to be easy
looked at today are not going to be easy to solve but they’ll be easier to solve
to solve but they’ll be easier to solve
to solve but they’ll be easier to solve if we can strip away the political
if we can strip away the political
if we can strip away the political packaging and understand the core of
packaging and understand the core of
packaging and understand the core of that problem toy games like the
that problem toy games like the
that problem toy games like the red-green game let us set about finding
red-green game let us set about finding
red-green game let us set about finding solutions instead of simply casting
solutions instead of simply casting
solutions instead of simply casting stones and that’s how a little fun and
stones and that’s how a little fun and
stones and that’s how a little fun and games a little understanding of game
games a little understanding of game
games a little understanding of game theory can make us both better thinkers
theory can make us both better thinkers
theory can make us both better thinkers and better citizens thank you
and better citizens thank you
and better citizens thank you [Applause]
”
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