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From Paradise to Disaster: The Kaibab Forest and the Unexpected Role of Wolves
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Kaibab Forest in northern Arizona, USA, was still lush with pines and firs and full of vitality. There are about 4,000 deer in the forest, and the ferocious and cruel wolves are the deer’s biggest enemies. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt wanted to effectively protect the deer in the Kaibabo Forest and breed more. He declared the Kaibab Forest a national hunting preserve and decided that the government would hire hunters to go there and eliminate wolves. The sound of gunfire echoed through the forest. Under the cold muzzle of the hunter, the wolf screamed one after another and died.…
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The Fallacy of Composition: Why What’s Good for One Person Isn’t Always Good for Everyone
The “fallacy of composition” is a concept originated by Samuelson, an American economist and Nobel laureate. It refers to the idea that aggregating rational individual choices can lead to irrational outcomes for the group. To illustrate, Samuelson provides a vivid example. In an open-air theatre, spectators initially sit on the ground. Those in back cannot see well, so they stand up. Seeing them stand, others follow suit. Soon everyone is standing, yet no one’s view has improved. Some spectators then stand on tiptoes, prompting others to do the same. The result is declining comfort for all, and rising individual costs, exemplifying the “fallacy of composition.” In life, similar dynamics emerge…
