In their book, Scarcity, Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir try to explain why the poor often make decisions that are bad for them in the long run such as going to loan sharks, not saving enough, not getting their children vaccinated, not sending their children to school, etc. and the list goes on. Instead of blaming the poor, they tell of the effect of “tunneling” as a result of constantly living with scarcity. We are so focused on not having enough that our brain capacity to make sound and creative decision is diminished. They called this bandwidth tax.
Bandwidth measures our computational capacity, our ability to pay attention, to make good decisions, to stick with our plans, and to resist temptations. Bandwidth correlates with everything from intelligence and SAT performance to impulse control and success on diets. . . . By constantly drawing us back into the tunnel, scarcity taxes our bandwidth and, as a result, inhibits our most fundamental capacity.
Their solution: economizing on bandwidth can yield high returns. We can provide programs for the poor in ways that increase their bandwidth so that they can make sound decisions for a sustainable future. The first step is to find ways to enter the “tunnel” and interrupt the tunneling process. For example, micro-financing by itself may not help the poor in the long run when they are tunneling. Providing a community that reminds them to pay back in a small amount every week will help them get out of the scarcity trap in the future. In Holy Currencies terms, we need to develop our relationship currencies with the poor and issue frequent reminders, as friends, for them to do the constructive sustainable things that may be outside their tunneled mind and vision.
Programs that can increase their bandwidth to make sound decisions include accessible childcare, creation of jobs with dependable and stable incomes, and insurance products and creative savings programs that can help them build up their financial slack that can cushion unexpected small financial shocks that could drive them back into the scarcity trap.
Child care provides more than just child care, and the right financial product does much more than just create savings for a rainy day. Each of these can liberate bandwidth, boost IQ, firm up self-control, enhance clarity of thinking, and even improve sleep.
Christianity to many is foolishness – in a world of scarcity, why would anyone want to give up one’s life for another as Jesus had done? But this foolishness is actually wisdom that is based on God’s spirituality of abundance; there is always enough when we share what we have. A community that practices this foolishness of giving stop people from tunneling—obsessing over not having enough—and, therefore, increases the people bandwidth – their ability to make wise and creative decisions that foster a sustainable future for all.
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Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: March 19-24, 2015 April 21-25, 2015 July 20-25, 2015 November 1-5, 2015 |
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Reflection Questions for 3rd Sunday of Lent (Year B) Exodus 20:1-17 Psalm 19 1Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2:13-22 |
Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org
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