Focal points and the power of implicit shared salience
Thomas C. Schelling Thomas C. Schelling (1921–2016) was an American economist and professor known for his ground-breaking work on game theory and its application to conflict, cooperation, and international security. He was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2005 for “having enhanced our understanding of conflict and cooperation through game-theory analysis.” Schelling’s influential books, particularly “The Strategy of Conflict” (1960) and “Micromotives and Macrobehavior” (1978), introduced key concepts such as focal points, credible commitments, and the “tipping point” phenomenon, profoundly shaping fields like international relations, nuclear strategy, and even social dynamics. Theory of Conflict Thomas Schelling in “Theory of Conflict” wrote: TACIT COORDINATION (COMMON INTERESTS) When a man loses his wife in a department store without any prior understanding on where to meet if they get separated, the chances are good that they will find each other. It is likely...