The basis of all human transactions is trust. Trust that others will keep their word
and do what they said they will do.
Let me rephrase: in a well-functioning society the basis of human
transaction is trust that other people will keep their word.
In a society where some use power or force to get what they
want, or others deceit, there will be considerable costs to us as individuals,
and to society as a whole.
You pay the plumber to fix the sink trusting the leak will
be fixed; you take a job trusting you will be paid; you sign a business
contract trusting your partners will hold up their sides of the bargain; you
get married trusting your spouse will be faithful.
There are ways to mitigate the costs of the inability to
trust others. If we are working
for someone else we can ask to be paid up front (although others may be
reluctant to pay up front afraid there will be no incentive to finish the
project). We can bring those who
fail to live up to their promises to an independent body for dispute
resolution. Couples can enter into
pre-nuptial agreements. But, of course, these mitigations cost time and money.
It is extremely difficult to enter into any relationship
where parties do not feel bound by their word. This is true whether we are talking about romantic or
business relationships. At first,
everyone makes wonderful promises and aspires to great things. But if everyone decides to do what best
suits him or herself when things don’t go as planned, the venture will not be
long for this world.
For example, if two parties think they have come to a
business agreement only to arrive at the next meeting to find that the terms
they thought were set in stone are being renegotiated, the deal will not get
done. The same is true for
romantic relationships.
