10-13-2008, 08:39 PM
Hi,
One of the precepts of game theory is that the players are aware of the costs of all possible outcomes. Another precept is that the players are the ones to stand to win or lose. Who are the players? Are they the governments of the nations that do the recycling or are they the actual workers? Because it seems to me that the governments are the ones with the information and the recyclers are the ones paying the price.
The workers would not have the option to recycle if their governments did not allow the materials in, and they would not be in danger if the government passed and enforced safety regulations. These are matters that the government of those nations, and not the workers, control.
Since the governments make the decision, it is not between starvation and recycling, for the government officials are not in danger of starvation. It is a choice between hard currency and the loss of a few lives, of which they have a surplus. Establishing and enforcing safety regulations would reduce the profit, which is the first consideration to the decision makers.
The workers themselves are the ones with the decision to recycle or starve, but does any rational person really think those workers are fully aware of the dangers of what they are doing. It wasn't that long ago that every kid in the USA had a little vial of mercury to play with, that people bought lead for weight and bullets, that brake shoes were made of asbestos and many did their own maintenance, that people used benzene and gasoline to clean greasy parts. These were all going on in an affluent, fairly well educated society, because the dangers were not widely known or appreciated. Does anyone really think that an illiterate child in a third world country really knows or understands the risks?
So, while your game theory question seems simple, I think there are great levels of complexity hidden there, and the answer is not that easy.
--Pete
Quote:Just from a strictly game theory point of view, if they prefer A to B, and we prevent them from taking option A, isn't that making things worse for them, rather than better? (A of course being taking the waste recycling deal, B being starvation.)Interesting question. Of course, also a bit misleading.
One of the precepts of game theory is that the players are aware of the costs of all possible outcomes. Another precept is that the players are the ones to stand to win or lose. Who are the players? Are they the governments of the nations that do the recycling or are they the actual workers? Because it seems to me that the governments are the ones with the information and the recyclers are the ones paying the price.
The workers would not have the option to recycle if their governments did not allow the materials in, and they would not be in danger if the government passed and enforced safety regulations. These are matters that the government of those nations, and not the workers, control.
Since the governments make the decision, it is not between starvation and recycling, for the government officials are not in danger of starvation. It is a choice between hard currency and the loss of a few lives, of which they have a surplus. Establishing and enforcing safety regulations would reduce the profit, which is the first consideration to the decision makers.
The workers themselves are the ones with the decision to recycle or starve, but does any rational person really think those workers are fully aware of the dangers of what they are doing. It wasn't that long ago that every kid in the USA had a little vial of mercury to play with, that people bought lead for weight and bullets, that brake shoes were made of asbestos and many did their own maintenance, that people used benzene and gasoline to clean greasy parts. These were all going on in an affluent, fairly well educated society, because the dangers were not widely known or appreciated. Does anyone really think that an illiterate child in a third world country really knows or understands the risks?
So, while your game theory question seems simple, I think there are great levels of complexity hidden there, and the answer is not that easy.
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?