Bryan wrote: > A) Children aren't aware of the benefits of trade (cooperation). Most > things they have are provided from their parent(s), and so they don't > see much benefit to cooperating with others.
But your parents support is relatively unconditional. Other kids' is not. -- Wouldn't this help my point that kids might not realize all the benefits of cooperation?- they are getting what they want from their parents (though, as you suggest, they may not have to cooperate quite as much here as with others), but that would mean they have even less reason to cooperate, not more. > B) Children know that trade gets them something, but their gain from > trade are not are great as adults. Children might not have much to > offer each other. Cooperating with another kid might get you another > friend, but cooperating with another adult might get you a job or other > tangible benefit. At least to me, it seems like kids value friends *more* than adults. A lot of kids spend all of their time worrying about their popularity. Not so many adults do. -- I agree with that remark, but kids also have many more opportunities to meet friends. Most of their lives are just socializing. The cost of meeting someone else is low, and maybe they won't be asking as much. Also, at least to me, the market for childhood friends seems much more homogeneous then adult friends- again lowering the opportunity cost of passing on someone if they ask too much. Jason DeBacker
