It is much harder to practice cooperation when one has the power to refuse it.( The Price of Convenience — A Story About Selective Solidarity The contradiction between excluding others when they are inconvenient and seeking their help when circumstances become difficult is a recurring feature of human relationships, business organizations, and even international politics. This story explores that behavior through a Japanese manufacturing company facing a supply-chain crisis.It incorporates concepts from behavioral economics, strategic partnerships, supply-chain resilience, and organizational psychology. In November 2026, in the industrial district of Nagoya, a mid-sized automotive components manufacturer called Seishin Mobility Systems was preparing for what its executives described as the most important year in the company’s history. Its president, 54-year-old Takashi Kuroda, was an ambitious businessman who believed that efficiency ...