ACCORDING TO AN ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORT, former North Carolina mailman Steven Padgett refused to deliver junk mail, and buried it in his backyard instead.
THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE did not receive a single complaint about the missing pizza circulars, oil change discounts and Chinese restaurant specials.
JUNK MAIL, JUNK EMAILS, SPAM AND COLD PHONE CALLS are all surprising examples of the Tragedy of the Commons - a situation where the benefits accrue to the individual, but the costs are borne by the community. There are many more serious examples, including resource depletion, pollution, and global warming.
AS MR. PADGETT SHOWED, individuals can make a difference. Congratulations, Mr. Padgett, for showing that individuals can take action to break this vicious nexus.
FOR MORE BACKGROUND ON GAME THEORY IN EVERYDAY LIFE, see my November 9 post:
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