The Magic of Global Cooperation: How a Pencil Teaches Us About the Free Market
- Nguyễn Trung Kiên
- Apr 8
- 3 min read
Have you ever held a pencil and wondered: “What made this possible?” A small, seemingly simple object, yet it carries an astonishing story of global cooperation, economics, and the value of the free market. Let’s dive into the journey of a pencil—and through it, uncover a lesson to solve one of our biggest challenges today: how to live in harmony and prosperity in a world full of differences.
The Story of a Pencil
Picture an ordinary pencil: a wooden body, a graphite core, a red eraser, a brass ferrule, and a glossy yellow coat. At first glance, it’s nothing special. But behind it lies a miraculous web of collaboration among thousands of people across the globe.
The wood comes from forests in Washington state, USA, where a tree was felled with a saw.
The saw was forged from steel, and the steel came from iron ore—mined from some distant corner of the earth.
The graphite core (often misnamed as lead) is actually compressed graphite, possibly sourced from mines in South America.
The eraser, made of rubber, likely hails from Malaya—though rubber trees aren’t native there; they were imported from South America by entrepreneurs with help from the British government.
The brass ferrule, yellow paint, and glue—each part originates from a different part of the world, crafted by countless anonymous hands.
Thousands of people—who don’t speak the same language, follow the same religion, or might even despise each other if they met—unwittingly worked together to create the pencil in your hand. What brought them together?'
The Magic of Prices
No single leader issued commands. No one orchestrated every step. The only thing coordinating it all was the price system—an invisible yet powerful mechanism of the free market. The price of wood, steel, rubber, labor—all blended together to produce a pencil that costs just a few cents. You trade a few minutes of your effort to own a few seconds of the work of thousands. That’s the magic.
A Lesson for Us Today
In a world rife with conflict—from trade wars to cultural divides—the pencil reminds us that cooperation doesn’t require sameness. You don’t need to like someone to work with them. The free market, with its price system as the mediator, proves this. It doesn’t just drive economic efficiency; it fosters peace among nations.
But here’s the problem: why haven’t we fully harnessed this power? Why do businesses, individuals, and countries still get caught in cutthroat competition instead of collaboration? The answer lies in a lack of understanding of the true value of the free market and how it works.
The Solution: Cooperate to Succeed
Businesses: Look beyond short-term profits. Build global supply chains, tapping into resources from everywhere, regardless of borders. A tech startup in Vietnam could partner with a factory in China, engineers in India, and investors in the U.S. to create a groundbreaking product.
Individuals: Don’t fear differences. Learn to “trade” your time and skills with others through the market—whether you’re a freelancer or a content creator.
Society: Support free trade and reduce barriers. An open economy doesn’t just bring prosperity; it eases geopolitical tensions.
Conclusion: Let the Market Lead the Way
A pencil isn’t just a tool. It’s living proof that we can create wonders together, even without realizing it. At Trung Kien Techdevinco, we believe technology and free trade are the keys to connecting people, sparking innovation, and building a better future. Let’s learn from the pencil: no one needs to give orders—just a fair system of value, and the world will run in harmony.
This article is published on trungkiengroup.com by Trung Kien Techdevinco. Note: The content is for reference only, and Trung Kien Techdevinco bears no responsibility for any disputes related to the information herein.
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