Nudge When Schiphol Airport shredded 400 squirrels (and why no one was to blame)
Aug 25, 2025
Dan Davies, an economist and author of 'The Unaccountability Machine', dives into the alarming trend of corporate irresponsibility. He recounts the bizarre incident where Schiphol Airport shredded 400 squirrels due to bureaucratic blunders, highlighting the chilling effects of unaccountable systems. Davies also critiques marketing tactics that distort consumer behavior and examines the parallels between mishaps at Boeing and irresponsible corporate governance. He urges a reevaluation of how organizations operate to regain ethical boundaries in decision-making.
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The Schiphol Squirrel Tragedy
- A consignment of about 440 ground squirrels from Beijing transited through Schiphol without proper paperwork and could not be re-exported.
- KLM cargo shredded roughly 400 squirrels, sparking outrage while no one was held legally responsible.
When Following Rules Excuses Harm
- Systems can produce terrible outcomes while each actor is simply following rules and policies.
- That diffusion of decision ownership creates situations where nobody is identifiable as responsible.
The Accountability Sink Explained
- Unaccountability machines design decisions so they have no clear human owner, producing an 'accountability sink' in customer interactions.
- Frontline staff relay scripted decisions but cannot be held responsible for them.
