No. 105 · People · Military and War
Zero-Sum vs Win-Win
Many contests that look like fights over a fixed pie are chances to grow it.
In the Almanac
“Camp David”, 1978 · “Apple and Corning”, 2007
Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.
Get the AlmanacListen · Watch
Questions
What is Zero-Sum vs Win-Win?
Zero-sum thinking treats every interaction as a fixed pie: more for you means less for me. Win-win thinking looks for ways to grow the pie so everyone gains. At Camp David in 1978, Egypt and Israel moved beyond a pure land-for-land standoff to a peace that served both nations.
How do you use Zero-Sum vs Win-Win?
When a situation feels like a contest, ask how the possibilities could be expanded. Look at what each side truly values, since different priorities often allow trades that leave everyone better off. Save zero-sum thinking for situations that are genuinely fixed, like a single prize.
When does Zero-Sum vs Win-Win matter?
Zero-Sum vs Win-Win is one of the 60 mental models for people, the situations where you ask: Why do people act as they do, and how do I work with them? Within that, it belongs to “Negotiating and conflict”, alongside Appeasement, Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement and Call Your Bluff.
What is an example of Zero-Sum vs Win-Win?
Two stories show it at work: Camp David (1978) and Apple and Corning (2007). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.
Which mental models are related to Zero-Sum vs Win-Win?
Prisoner’s Dilemma, Comparative Advantage and Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement. Zero-Sum vs Win-Win itself comes from military and war.