Socialism

For those of you that don't know, I decided that I didn't like Econ last semester. That was kind of a problem since I was an Econ major. I decided I wanted to be a social welfare major. But, because my Econ degree was already half done and no one outside of communist Russia would ever hire a social welfare major from Berkeley, I'm sticking it out and doing a double major.

As more time goes on, I realize I dislike econ more and more. In writing a 20 page paper on collective action and cooperation I figured out why.

Econ: I could help you. You could help me. We would both be better of. But I don't trust you so I won't help you because the worst possible thing that could happen is for me to help you and then you not to help me. Instead, neither of us will help the other and neither of us will be better of.

Social Welfare: I could help you. You will be better off if I help you. So I am going to help you. If you decide to help me, that's awesome. If you don't, at least one of us is better off.

Econ is about minimizing personal losses. Social welfare is about maximizing collective gains.


Basically I'm a socialist. And it only took 6 weeks in Europe (or 2 years in Berkeley)