This week, some random ramblings (from the subway) while I crunch through some analysis that I will share in the coming months.
I was riding the subway in New York City one day and thinking about how efficient the system is. There are plenty of trains to get you just about anywhere in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Statten Island. You can ride from way up in the Bronx to the southern end of Brooklyn or all the way from Staten Island over to Breakaway Beach in Queens, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, all for only $2.25 per trip. And best of all there are so many trains running, you’re never left waiting for long, even in the wee hours of the night.
This system along with the various buses that traverse New York City allow for true car-free living. Amazing! But how does it achieve this convenience to its customers? Ironically, through reducing choice! What do I mean? Suppose I want to go from the gym to work, within Manhattan, among my options are to bike or take the subway. But to take the subway, I have find and walk to one of its underground entrances (which may be a little out of my way) and then get off at one of the pre-determined stops and walk from there to my final destination. You can’t stop the subway wherever you want, you can’t sidetrack to your favorite shop on a different street. Once you’re on, you can only get off at one of the stops, those are your only choices.
For giving up a little choice, we gain a lot of efficiency. Underground there is no bad weather to slow down your commute or traffic jams to cause road rage. Just smooth, dependable operation. Sounds kind of like socialism, at least in theory. Reduce choice for the benefit of improved efficiency.
How does the subway compare to driving a car or riding my bike? Well, with either of these, I can go anywhere I want, whenever I want, using whatever route I want and can travel as fast as I want. But for this freedom, I have to deal with all others making their own choices, traveling via their random routes, at random times … in other words TRAFFIC!! We all get to where we want. It may not be the smoothest journey but we choose every twist and turn that is best for us. All actors, maximizing only their own utility functions. Just like capitalism.
I’m not advocating one system, capitalism or socialism, over another. I’m only pointing out an observation (where the parallels may even be too far fetched to be relevant). But there are pros and cons to both. With freedom and choice comes chaos with the hope that more freedom means more progress in the end. While true efficiency may only be possible by giving up important freedoms. I love the subway but also my bike and wouldn’t give up either.
