#game-theory

#game-theory

In a far away land, the following facts are true and known to everyone: 1) A person who ingests a poison will die within the hour UNLESS that person ingests a stronger poison, which acts as an antidote and restores complete health. 2) Smith and Jones are the only manufacturers of poison. 3) Each makes several types of poison. 4) All poisons have different strengths. 5) Smith and Jones do not have access to each other's poisons.

Walking through the Long Island Railroad concourse, my son was perplexed by the close proximity of three chicken-themed restaurants-Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane's, and Pollo Campero-and by the fact that a shop called Gotham News mainly seemed to sell candy and bottled water. He also wanted to know why some people, as they strolled or waited, drank out of cans in brown paper bags. "Why do they use those bags?" he asked.

The decision not to vaccinate isn't simply about misinformation or hesitancy; it involves game theory, explaining how rational choices can lead to risky collective outcomes.