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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Our behavior explained through economics and game theory.
Micromotives and Macrobehavior by Thomas C. Schelling is a collection of essays exploring how individual decisions and motivations can result in unexpected group behaviors and societal outcomes. It offers insights on human decision-making and the effects of social structures on our actions.
Throughout history, people have tried to understand why humans behave in certain ways. For example, how do we make choices?
One way to answer this last question is to look at the realm of economics.
Although economics is usually associated with abstract topics like markets and money growth, it also offers a powerful tool kit to analyze human behavior.
One such tool is the subfield of game theory, which proposes many useful models for understanding complex human behavior. It is used in economics to analyze, for example, people’s interactions when they buy and sell goods in the marketplace. And because economic behavior is not that different to social behavior, the same tools can be used for both.
First of all, let’s explore the economic concept of the market.
In economics, a market typically describes a complex of institutions – banks, shops, financial regulators – within which individuals pursue economic activities. These activities include lending and borrowing money, distributing and purchasing goods, offering jobs and getting hired.
Furthermore, the individual’s activities are unguided, meaning that the government doesn't control these institutions beyond a basic system of laws and rules.
Yet on the aggregate level – the level of all the individuals considered together – individual activities interlock perfectly and the overall system appears to run surprisingly smoothly. For example, when we go to the shop, the goods we want are usually there, and when we go to the bank, we can withdraw money easily – all this without any overseeing control.
Now let’s apply this market concept to social behavior.
When we decide who to date and marry, we make use of the relationship and marriage market, which, just like an economic market, involves many individuals acting within an unregulated system of institutions – the many bars, clubs, parks and other places where we look for a date. And the final result? An overall effective system in which most of us find a partner – in the end.
Micromotives and Macrobehavior explores the links between individual and group behavior through the paradigm of economics and game theory. In particular, it describes the complexities and consequences of interdependent decisions, where individual behaviors produce surprising results at group level. It shows that we often fail to foresee how our actions, combined with the actions of others, can lead to unintended, significant and sometimes problematic outcomes.
Micromotives and Macrobehavior (1978) is a thought-provoking exploration of how small individual actions can lead to large-scale social phenomena. Here's why this book deserves your attention:
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Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get startedBlink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
What is the main message of Micromotives and Macrobehavior?
Individual actions have unintentional and often surprising effects on a larger scale.
How long does it take to read Micromotives and Macrobehavior?
Reading time varies, but it's a quick read. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Micromotives and Macrobehavior a good book? Is it worth reading?
Yes, it's worth reading. Offers insights into how small actions shape our world. Recommended for curious minds.
Who is the author of Micromotives and Macrobehavior?
Micromotives and Macrobehavior was written by Thomas C. Schelling.