The Dissenter

#1029 J. Doyne Farmer - Making Sense of Chaos: A Better Economics for a Better World

16 snips
Dec 6, 2024
J. Doyne Farmer, a leading figure in complexity economics and professor at the University of Oxford, dives into the chaotic nature of economic systems. He discusses how traditional models often fail to account for unpredictability and the importance of agent-based simulations. The conversation also uncovers strategies for transitioning to net-zero emissions, emphasizing the rapid advancements in renewable energy. Farmer critiques the connection between economic policies and inequality while advocating for a more nuanced approach to policy evaluation.
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INSIGHT

Economy as a Complex System

  • The economy, like complex systems, exhibits emergent properties.
  • Individual actions combine to create outcomes far beyond individual capabilities, like society's achievements.
INSIGHT

Chaos Theory Explained

  • Chaos theory involves sensitive dependence on initial conditions and endogenous motion.
  • Tiny initial differences can lead to vastly different outcomes, creating unpredictability like in weather systems.
INSIGHT

Chaos Theory and Business Cycles

  • Business cycles might be explained by chaos theory's endogenous motion.
  • Economic fluctuations may arise spontaneously from within the system, not just external shocks like COVID-19.
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