The Trust Economy
There is a farm on the outskirts of Bangalore called Mapletree. They deliver organic fruits & vegetables to our apartment. They promise that they use fewer chemicals and use cutting-edge work on soil biology to ensure nutrient-rich produce, making the fruits & veggies safe and healthy for us. I’ve never been to their farms, nor have I ever asked them for any proof. I choose to believe them.
When I give my car for servicing, the mechanic takes the vehicle for a test drive and tells me what parts need fixing. While he has a vested interest in finding flaws in the car, I believe him and pay accordingly.
And when they say no animals were harmed during the making of the film, I believe them too.
They could all be lying. And there is no way of knowing if they are. But I prefer to trust them. I am sure it’s the same with you. That’s how the trust economy works; it expects that all the people we have never met are doing the right thing.
Perhaps the biggest example of the trust economy in action is how the governments worldwide are dealing with this pandemic. If you feel the symptoms of covid or have come in contact with someone who has tested positive, you are expected to self isolate. It’s fascinating how the most powerful governing bodies worldwide tackle the biggest problem of our times - by placing their trust in people to do the right thing.
The modern world is too complicated and very interconnected, and while it’s possible to try and check the proof for a few things, it’s just impossible to do so for everything. A far better - and convenient - way of life is to trust that everyone is doing the right thing.
But this works only when everyone else, or at least the wide majority, behaves this way. Every time someone cheats, lies, or does the wrong thing, not only does that person lose trust, it diminishes the faith in the whole system.
As individuals who enjoy the benefit of the trust economy, we also hold the responsibility to keep the system going.
So when in doubt, do the right thing. Say the truth.
You might not know the people who are counting on you. But they are.
Best
Kaddy