Harriet Riley

The Experiment

“Look, it’s very simple,” said Dr. Keen, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “All you have to do is decide whether you’re going to keep the $20,000 for yourself, or give half to the participant in the other room. If you both choose to keep it, neither of you gets anything. If you give half away and they don’t, you get to keep what you have left. But if they give half away, and you don’t, you get to keep your own money, plus what they gave to you. Do you understand?”