Everything is matchmaking
There are two forms of the claim everything is matchmaking:
- Weak: people create things, and at some point matchmaking is a necessary part of success. But it’s not the only part.
- Strong: everyone is making things in order to do well on anticipated matchmaking: the creation of the thing itself is part of the matchmaking process
Some things which are matchmaking:
- Recruitment
- Recreational activity (cinemas, restaurants, holidays, etc)
- Travel
- Housing
- Politics
- Dating
- Friending
- Schools. Even state-run school: people can’t buy their way in but they can move house.
- University choice
- Immigration. Choosing nation to go to. There is friction but it’s still matchmaking.
- All events: matching the event to the needs of likely attendees
Can processes involving lots of friction be matchmaking? Yes, see immigration. The friction of options is one consideration when matchmaking.
Are markets good at matchmaking? Yes.
Could they do better? Often, yes.
Are there business opportunities in such cases? Oh yes.
Could the state do matchmaking too? Yes, but it generally doesn’t.
Why not? Concerns over optics, delivery capability, inadequate preference data, it’s not what is does at the moment, limited attentional bandwidth, and other reasons.
Should the state do more matchmaking? Maybe so. Its incentives are more aligned with the public than business. The state has little incentive for preference manipulation, which can happen in markets.
Should the state make the world's first perfectly user-aligned dating app? You're twisting my arm but go on then.
Is anything not matchmaking? Jury selection is truly random. Conscription, if we went there. Covid vaccine.