Institutional Review Board (IRB) Application
Experiment Name: “Evidence of Trade in a Robinson Crusoe Economy”
Objectives & Justification
Summary
In this study we intend to secretly sabotage two one-person sailing vessels forcing them to wreck on opposite ends of an island. The first individual will wash ashore and find he has access to a huge supply of coconuts but no mussels. The second will find herself in an area rich in mussels but poor in coconuts. Throughout the rest of this document, we will refer to our subjects as "Bob" and "Amy" as placeholder names (actual subjects are currently being selected from a random pool of likely cryptocurrency “investors”). We plan to track the development of what we expect will be a a mussel and coconut based economy.
Study Hypothesis
Trade will ensue… most likely... hopefully... otherwise Amy will get scurvy.
Study Purpose
Is “amusement” an appropriate answer here?
Primary Scientific Justification
Oh, now economics is a “science”?
How Will Research Findings Be Used?
The betterment of econ 101 textbook practice questions everywhere
Details
Describe the Experiment Step by Step
Set up “Truman Show” style camera apparatus on small island.
Attack two (2) sailboats with ball-pein hammers by cover of night. Attach remote control apparatus to rudders.
Pilfer physics department grant money to pay camera operators. Save money by not recovering subjects from island once experiment is over (this will also save on litigation costs).
Risk/Benefits/Consent
Describe Consent Procedures
N/A
Risks
Death / never seeing families again / degenerating into madness once they find the conch shell we intend to plant
Benefits
Health and dental coverage will be provided, should participants ever again encounter a doctor or dentist.