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I don't think 'rational' is the right word. Responding to incentives, in this case a monetary disincentive, is rationality. The tenants are either lazy, care li
by MaxGabriel 15y ago
I don't think 'rational' is the right word. Responding to incentives, in this case a monetary disincentive, is rationality. The tenants are either lazy, care little about the appearance, don't put much thought to the issue, don't know they're doing something wrong, or don't care because there is no disincentive to anonymous trash-leaving (especially because other tenants are doing it).
So maybe a better title would be "don't expect people to think just the same as you."
- nasmorn 15y agoRationality can only be meaningfully defined as an optimizing behavior over ones preferences. If these are to not do any extra work unless fined the neighbors were plenty rational before. The author is yearning for morally decent people. I guess Kant would have called this rational but as an economist I am forever doomed to accept peoples immoral behavior as the expression of their immoral preferences.
- tjstankus 15y agoI thought the same thing. Perhaps "lazy" or "inconsiderate" are better words to describe people's behavior before the sign went up. Given the option to do the easiest thing possible, many people will do just that, especially in the absence of punitive measures.