In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Tom Buchanan’s confrontational business dealings reveal a willingness to negotiate aggressively, reflecting a broader American acceptance of price negotiation as a sign of power and influence.
Iran Nuclear Deal (2015)
The negotiation between the U.S., Iran, and other global powers aimed to limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. The U.S. negotiators prioritized a clear bottom line while maintaining enough flexibility to adjust terms as the negotiation progressed, a strategy that underscores the American focus on securing practical, enforceable agreements.
Shark Tank
In the popular series Shark Tank, entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to investors who openly negotiate equity percentages, valuations, and funding amounts. The entire premise of the show is rooted in the American cultural belief that negotiating is not only acceptable but expected in business settings.
Harvey Specter
In Suits, Harvey Specter is portrayed as a ruthless negotiator, leveraging every possible advantage to secure the best deal for his clients.
dark, ruthless
In The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (1939), the Joad family arrives in California during the Great Depression, seeking work. They encounter a contractor who offers them substandard wages, knowing they are desperate. The contractor leverages the Joads’ desperation to dictate the terms of employment, setting up a classic power imbalance. Despite the unfair terms, the Joads have no leverage to negotiate, highlighting the stark economic realities of the time. The focus on exploiting power dynamics, leveraging scarcity, and driving a hard bargain without regard for fairness reflects the darker, more ruthless side of American negotiation culture.
“Sweeten the deal”
“Sweeten the deal.” To add something extra to make an offer more attractive. It reflects the American tendency to strategically use concessions to close a deal.
invisible hand
The American approach to pricing is strongly influenced by the philosophy of laissez-faire capitalism, as articulated by thinkers such as Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill. While both were British, their ideas found fertile ground in the American context, where individualism and free enterprise were already deeply embedded in the cultural ethos. Smith’s concept of the invisible hand suggests that prices are naturally determined by supply and demand, and that market forces, not regulatory bodies, should dictate value. This perspective fosters the belief that price is fluid and negotiable, rather than fixed and objective.
Bottom Line
The American term Bottom Line conveys the concept of the absolute minimum acceptable outcome. It is culturally significant because it reflects a clear understanding of one’s limit, communicated openly or kept internal.
real-world conditions
American economic thought is heavily influenced by the classical economic model, which posits that prices are determined by the intersection of supply and demand. This perspective is rooted in the empirical, data-driven approach of economists such as Alfred Marshall and later, Milton Friedman. In this framework, price fluctuations are seen as natural market corrections that reflect real-world conditions, rather than as deviations from an objective standard.
Negotiation Room
The American term Negotiation Roo’ conveys the concept of having intentional flexibility built into the negotiation. It is culturally significant because concessions are expected, and starting positions are not considered final.