The Altruism Economy

David Sloan Wilson, an evolutionary biologist, argues that altruistic groups beat selfish ones in the long run. Social insects like ants and bees, which exhibit extraordinary altruism, are so successful that they form half of the biomass of all insects. Businesses can emulate these social insects by adopting altruistic strategies that will ultimately benefit them in the long run. A reputation for being a good collaborator has a tangible benefit as people collaborate with others they like, trust, and respect. Pursuing an altruistic strategy allows companies to win again and again, while pursuing a selfish strategy can only win once.