ABSTRACT
A few thoughtful rules can help resolve disputes and ensure more efficient use of a resource for the benefit of the group as a whole. The hilarious escapades of the band of misfits in The Last Man on Earth provide the perfect setting to examine both the difficulty in reaching collective agreements and the benefits that can be reaped through compromise and cooperation. Phil Miller was the last man on earth. A catastrophic plague wiped out every other animal and human being. The advantage members of a society achieve by agreeing to follow the same set of rules is a reduction in the amount of time spent on choosing a particular course of action. Economists call rules that guide our choices in social settings institutions. A degree of organization, monitoring, and sanctioning can help effectively resolve conflict and manage a common pool resource among hundreds, even thousands, of people.
