The Social Norm of Leaving the Toilet Seat Down

Game theory economic analysis by Hammad Siddiqi:

We find that the social norm of leaving the toilet seat down is inefficient. However, to our dismay, we also find that the social norm of always leaving the toilet seat down after use is not only a Nash equilibrium in pure strategies but is also trembling-hand perfect. So, we can complain all we like, but this norm is not likely to go away.

(Thanks to reader David Magda.)

★ Sunday, 3 June 2007