Apparently, some people prefer warm tap water to cold, filtered water from a Brita. I was shocked to learn this when a vote went out on whether to use house funds to buy a Brita filtered water dispenser for everyone in the house to use. It seems that $2.35 each was too steep a price to pay, and a heated debate ensued. With friendships hanging on by a thread, the vote was shot down with a slim majority, and it was decided that the house funds would not go to buying a Brita.
One housemate, James, determined to get his fresh water, gathered up the people who voted for the Brita, and we decided to share a Brita among just these people. James saw the value in making this a public good instead of buying one privately. In doing this we established a club for Brita water as Buchanan discusses in his theory of clubs. We were able to offer a nonrival good, privately for those in the club. One housemate in the Brita club, who is not an ECON major, brought up a very important objection. He said in a text "Who is to guard the Brita from the non Brita people when they realize that cold filtered water might be better than musty tap water?" He astutely pointed out that it would be difficult to make our Brita excludable. Since the Brita would be in a public fridge, we would have a difficult time preventing free-riders who voted against the Brita from taking our precious water. Relying on human decency threats of retribution, and the pride of those individuals who were so against the Brita, we established this club, and are now able to enjoy fresh filtered water instead of "musty tap water".
No comments:
Post a Comment