Outsourcing Stoplight Decision-Making
Sitting in a left turn lane, a few cars back from getting my chance to turn, I looked to my left to see a guy craning his neck trying to gauge when he could make a right on red. I laughed. Why in the world was this guy putting so much effort into making a turn? Yes, turning his neck probably wasn’t that much work, but to me, it was too much work. All he had to do was look at the cars turning left onto his street.
The driver a few cars in front of me had a straight angle at the road ahead, she had a brain on her shoulders, and a reason (multiple reasons?) not to make a dumb decision. As soon as she made the left, it was safe for him to make the right. The neck-craning driver could’ve saved 10-seconds of neck spasms by looking directly at the lady in front.
I outsource my biking decisions in a similar manner. I use pedestrians to help me gauge when to hesitate, when to slow down, and when to come to a full stop. If I happen to be approaching a normally non-busy intersection I look for pedestrians. If someone is walking across the street to my right or left then I know they have thought through their actions and decided it was safe to cross. In Denver it could be a stumbling homeless person so I have to be a little more careful, but you get the idea.
What I’m explaining is Rational Choice Theory: an economic principle that states that individuals always make prudent and logical decisions. These decisions provide people with the greatest benefit or satisfaction — given the choices available — and are also in their highest self-interest. It’s also explained well in Isaac Morehouse’s short audio clip (which I apparently played a role in inspiring).
Towards a Rational Community
Understanding people’s incentive to act both (a) in their own self-interest and (b) by what creates the greatest benefit is what has driven me to a passion for small businesses. The coffeehouse owner, street vendor, brewery master, app-developer etc. are all rational thinkers making prudent and logical decisions to best cater to the community.
With technological innovation it can be hard to think about the community around us. But we are surrounded by rational thinkers, everywhere. Everyone is trying to create a great life for themselves and to create the greatest benefit to the community. Helping out the community, one neighbor at a time, is how we’re going to develop a great society. And rational choice should be a lens that helps us build that community.