Thomas C. Schelling
Thomas C. Schelling
======================
Full Name and Common Aliases
---------------------------------
Thomas Crombie Schelling was an American economist and Nobel laureate, known for his work in game theory, international relations, and public policy.
Birth and Death Dates
-------------------------
Born on April 14, 1921, Schelling passed away on December 13, 2016.
Nationality and Profession(s)
--------------------------------
Schelling was an American economist and professor emeritus at Harvard University. His contributions to various fields earned him the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2005.
Early Life and Background
-----------------------------
Thomas Schelling grew up in Oakland, California, where he developed an interest in economics and politics. He graduated from Pomona College in 1941 before serving as a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy during World War II. After the war, he earned his master's degree in economics from Harvard University and later received his Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Major Accomplishments
-------------------------
Schelling's work spanned multiple disciplines, including game theory, international relations, and public policy. He made significant contributions to:
Game Theory: Schelling developed the concept of focal points, which explains how people agree on a course of action despite having different preferences.
International Relations: His book "The Strategy of Conflict" (1960) introduced game theory concepts to international relations, helping policymakers understand conflict dynamics.
Public Policy: Schelling's work on the economics of air pollution and climate change influenced policy decisions worldwide.Notable Works or Actions
-----------------------------
Some of his notable works include:
"The Strategy of Conflict" (1960)
"Arms and Influence" (1966)
"Micromotives and Macrobehavior" (1978)
Schelling's research also led to the development of various policy initiatives, such as the Clean Air Act Amendments.
Impact and Legacy
-------------------------
Thomas C. Schelling's work has had a lasting impact on multiple fields:
Game Theory: His contributions have helped shape the field of game theory, which is now used in various disciplines.
International Relations: Schelling's ideas have influenced policymakers worldwide, helping them navigate complex international conflicts.
Public Policy: His research on air pollution and climate change has shaped policy decisions globally.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
------------------------------------------
Schelling is widely quoted or remembered for his:
Innovative thinking: He applied game theory concepts to real-world problems, demonstrating the power of interdisciplinary approaches.
* Policy relevance: His work has directly influenced policymakers and informed decisions on pressing global issues.
Thomas C. Schelling's legacy serves as a testament to the impact one mind can have on various fields.
Quotes by Thomas C. Schelling
The principle of critical mass is so simple that it is no wonder that it shows up in epidemiology, fashion, survival and extinction of species, language systems, racial integration, jaywalking, panic behavior, and political movements.
Because people vary and because averages matter, there may be no sustainable critical mass; and the unravelling behavior, or initial failure to get the activity going at all, has much the appearance of a critical mass that is almost but not quite achieved. This is therefore a kindred but separate family of models.
This is a difference between nuclear weapons and bayonets. It is not in the number of people they can eventually kill but in the speed with which it can be done, in the centralization of decision, in the divorce of the war from political processes, and in computerized programs that threaten to take the war out of human hands once it begins.
If a model meets the criterion of simplicity it will often, like the thermostat-controlled heating system, describe physical and mechanical systems as well as social phenomena, animal behavior as well as human, scientific principles as well as household activities. An example is “critical mass.
I define game theory as the study of how rational individuals make choices when the better choice among two possibilities, or the best choice among several possibilities, depends on the choices that others will make or are making.
Earlier wars, like World Wars I and II or the Franco-Prussian War, were limited by termination, by an ending that occurred before the period of greatest potential violence, by negotiation that brought the threat of pain and privation to bear but often precluded the massive exercise of civilian violence. With nuclear weapons available, the restraint of violence cannot await the outcome of a contest of military strength; restraint, to occur at all, must occur during war itself. This.
The generic name for behaviors of this sort is critical mass. Social scientists have adopted the term from nuclear engineering, where it is common currency in connection with atomic bombs.
Models tend to be useful when they are simultaneously simple enough to fit a variety of behaviors and complex enough to fit behaviors that need the help of an explanatory model.
