Strategies of Commitment and Other Essays.

SCHELLING, Thomas C.

Item Number: 55097

Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2006.

First paperback edition of this collection of essays by the Nobel Prize-winning economist. Octavo, original wrappers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To John This is my latest I hope you like it Tom Schelling.” In fine condition.

All of the essays in this new collection by Thomas Schelling convey his unique perspective on individuals and society. This perspective has several characteristics: it is strategic in that it assumes that an important part of people's behavior is motivated by the thought of influencing other people's expectations; it views the mind as being separable into two or more parts (rational/irrational; present-minded/future-minded); it is motivated by policy concerns--smoking and other addictions, global warming, segregation, nuclear war; and while it accepts many of the basic assumptions of economics--that people are forward-looking, rational decision makers, that resources are scarce, and that incentives are important--it is open to modifying them when appropriate, and open to the findings and insights of other social science disciplines.