Fairness as Coordination Heuristic

People resolve allocation disputes not by abstract moral theorizing but by converging on focal solutions—simple, mutually‑recognizable rules (equal splits, turn taking, need‑based rules) that serve as coordination equilibria. Binmore’s game‑theoretic framing predicts which heuristics stick: those that are easy to signal, hard to game, and yield predictable payoffs for reciprocation. — If fairness is primarily a coordination heuristic, policy debates should focus less on abstract principle fights and more on which procedural rules produce stable, legible agreements across diverse groups.