Kari Bullock

Kari Bullock and John Baden, "Communes and the Logic of the Commons", ed. Garrett Hardin and John Baden, Managing the Commons, San Fransisco, W.H. Freeman and Company, 1977.

'A premium was placed on liberality and honesty'. It was to any single participant's advantage to underestimate his surpluses and to overestimate his just wants and needs in the yearly consecrations among the members of the Mormon Order of Stewardships. Liberality and honesty were expensive, and those who joined in the practice of these virtues were penalized by being placed at a competitive disadvantage. [189]

Any society devoted to permanence and continuity must be economically viable. Optimally, the perceived opportunities and benefits flowing from membership in that society will be attractive to the individual participants, and individual maximizing strategies will harmonize with social goals. Under these conditions individually rational behavior will be collectively rational. [196]

Although there are strong evolutionary pressures against pure altruism, we do not argue that humans are genetically competitive and selfish. In principle, institutions could be created that substantially reduce the dysfunctions of competition. [197]

The Hutterite system for allocating the position of head preacher employs a balance between rationality and revelation. Achievement records of candidates narrow the field of possibilities, fostering rational selections. To avoid conflict and rancor, God makes the final decision and manifests His will through the drawing of lots. Other positions of responsibility are filled by election. Since all baptized males have a vote, all enjoy a degree of participation in management. This acts to minimize deprivation costs to individuals. Bargaining costs are minimized as well by employing the elected council in most decision, and by incorporating a measure of chance defined as divine intervention. [198]