Robin's Birthday (Agnes Callard & Robin Hanson, with Arnold Brooks)
Sep 21, 2023
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Economist Robin Hanson and philosopher Agnes Callard engage in a fascinating conversation, discussing topics such as rethinking professional licensing, flight attendants as tax career agents, privacy and incentives in the modern world, and the concept of trust in different relationships.
Setting up more complicated relationships with agents can enhance trustworthiness and incentivize them to act in our best interests in various aspects of life.
Merging health and life insurance can align incentives in the medical field, resulting in better medical care by prioritizing patient well-being.
Assigning career agents and using a percentage of tax revenue to auction off individuals' future tax payments can provide tailored career advice and maximize clients' income, but overcoming distrust is a challenge.
Deep dives
Better Agents for Trustworthy Relationships
The podcast episode discusses the speaker's obsession with the idea of better agents in various aspects of life. The main point is that in our world, we heavily rely on people we don't know well, and there is a risk of them not fulfilling our expectations. The speaker suggests that setting up more complicated relationships with these agents can enhance trustworthiness and incentivize them to act in our best interests. Examples are given, such as merging health and life insurance to align incentives in the medical field. The issue of trust and the reluctance of people to embrace such ideas is also explored, highlighting the challenge of overcoming established trust dynamics.
Creating Trustworthy Medical Agents
One example presented in the podcast is the need for better agents in the medical field. The speaker points out the flaws in existing payment models, highlighting how fee-for-service may result in unnecessary treatments while capitation can lead to limited care. To improve trust in these medical agents, the speaker suggests merging health and life insurance to incentivize them to prioritize patient well-being. By aligning financial consequences with patient outcomes, doctors would have stronger incentives to make beneficial treatment decisions, resulting in better medical care. Concerns about potential distrust and resistance to involving insurance companies in healthcare decisions are also acknowledged.
The Value of Career Agents and Overcoming Distrust
Another example discussed in the episode is the concept of tax career agents. The idea is to assign an agent to individuals who would provide career advice and promotion, aiming to help people make better choices regarding their careers. The proposal suggests using a percentage of tax revenue to auction off individuals' future tax payments to these career agents. This arrangement benefits both parties, with individuals receiving advice tailored to their career goals and agents gaining financial incentives to maximize their clients' income. However, the speaker acknowledges the challenge of overcoming distrust and reluctance to embrace institutional agents in personal aspects of life, including career choices and personal finances.
Challenges and Concerns Regarding Trust and Financial Incentives
Throughout the podcast episode, the issue of trust and its relation to financial incentives is a recurring theme. The hesitancy to trust high-status individuals or institutions and concerns about manipulation and exploitation are discussed. The speaker points out the psychological barriers people face when it comes to trusting faceless institutions and accepting economic transactions based on financial incentives. The analogy of trust in car dealerships, real estate agents, and waiters is used to illustrate the selective trust we place in different contexts. It is acknowledged that bridging this trust gap and getting people to embrace institutional agents requires a shift in perception and acclimation to new trust dynamics.
Exploring the Role of Trust in Various Relationships
The podcast episode delves into the significance of trust in different relationships and contexts. It highlights the importance of trust in maintaining effective social and economic transactions. The speaker explores the reasons for trust in certain relationships and institutions, as well as the factors that lead to skepticism or resistance. The impact of status, incentives, and personal connections on trust dynamics is examined. The episode also raises thought-provoking questions about why certain types of trust are more readily accepted or rejected. Ultimately, it encourages a critical examination of trust dynamics and the potential for improving trust in various relationships through better incentives and understanding.
Imagine two smart curious friendly and basically truth-seeking people, but from very different intellectual traditions. Traditions with different tools, priorities, and ground rules. What would they discuss? Would they talk past each other? Make any progress? Would anyone want to hear them? Economist Robin Hanson and philosopher Agnes Callard decided to find out.
