Why the secret to speedier highways might be closing some roads: the Braess paradox - Mind Your Decisions

sidsavara

sidsavara
3,164 Favs

The paradox is the consequence of individual incentives conflicting with the social optimum. If all drivers could agree not to take the "free" road A-B, then it would be possible that everyone could save 10 minutes. The problem is this proposal is not sustainable-individual drivers have... more

Reviewed by sidsavara Jan 06 2009, 11:31am ( 5 reviews ) • mindyourdecisions.com

5,331 views

Join StumbleUpon or login to add a review!
Rated by Torchiest on Apr 18 2009, 10:43pm

I just don't buy it. There are a couple of MAJOR problems with this.First of all, the numbers used are just pulled right out of thin air. Doing that allows anything to be proven.Secondly, there is no such thing as a road that is wide enough to take an infinite capacity of cars with no increase in travel time. It's pure fantasy, fantasy that central planning solves all problems, and choice is bad. The more I think about it, the more irritating the whole article becomes. Just more control freak busy bodies that want to run our lives.
Rated by sidsavara on Jan 06 2009, 11:31am

The paradox is the consequence of individual incentives conflicting with the social optimum. If all drivers could agree not to take the "free" road A-B, then it would be possible that everyone could save 10 minutes. The problem is this proposal is not sustainable-individual drivers have an incentive to cheat and save time. Eventually the entire system breaks down when everyone cheats, making the roads congested.

Installing is Easy!