Napkin Rations

Amazing, all these life lessons one can learn at a homeless shelter!

Today I discovered an economic principle related to the supplying of paper napkins at mealtime. After noticing for the past few weeks that the clients tended to hoard stacks of napkins and leave them unused on the table after meals, I suggested that we fill the dispensers only half full each time. Secretly, I expected an increase of complaints about the lack of napkins.

However, that did not happen! Instead, those unseemly "stacks" disappeared, and there were fewer unused napkins littering the floor. To date, I have not heard a single complaint; and the dispensers are rarely all emptied during mealtimes. Whether the clients barter among themselves for serviettes, or just have begun to realize the ecological hazards of waste, an important lesson has been learned: when we cannot see the "end" of the resources (when the supply of goods is high) we tend to consume more than we truly require.

As the Christmas season is upon us, I would also like to suggest that "when prices are relatively low, we tend to buy more 'stuff' than we actually need". If only we'd be able to see the big picture...