Re: Prizes

Robin Hanson (hanson@hss.caltech.edu)
Thu, 17 Apr 1997 16:35:54 -0700 (PDT)


Mike Rose writes:
>I see no reason why it cannot work. I just find it sad that the only
>incentive in today's world is money, and not pride, or fame, or the
>pure thrill of success, or the feeling of achievement gained when you see
>a private fantasy tuen into a reality.

But these other incentives are quite strong and growing. The trouble
is that it is hard to affect other's perceptions of the pride, fame,
thrill, etc. they will feel with different outcomes. It is much
easier to affect their perception of the amount of money to be won.
That is the whole point of money, after all, to make it easier to give
other people what they want so they will do things you want.

Robin D. Hanson hanson@hss.caltech.edu http://hss.caltech.edu/~hanson/