Doyne Farmer, a prominent figure in complexity economics, discusses his journey from chaos theory to economics. He emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary work and applying complexity science to climate change. The conversation delves into the development of agent-based models for the economy and the challenges in predicting economic impacts, such as during the COVID pandemic.
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Quick takeaways
Transition from chaos theory to complexity economics highlights importance of multidisciplinary research.
Chaos theory's dual nature and unpredictability relate to real-world systems like the weather.
Deep dives
Dine Farmer's Journey from Chaos Theory to Complexity Economics
Dine Farmer, a prominent figure in complexity economics, shares his journey from being involved in the formation of chaos theory to his current focus on complexity economics. He discusses the transition from chaos theory to complexity science and eventually to complexity economics, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary research and the implications for addressing challenges like climate change. Farmer reflects on his early days experimenting with predicting roulette outcomes using physics, which laid the foundation for his work in understanding chaotic and complex systems.
Understanding Chaos Theory and Its Relation to Deterministic Dynamics
Farmer explains the concept of chaos theory, emphasizing its dual nature of being both deterministic yet generating random behavior. He delves into how chaos arises in nonlinear dynamical systems, where nearby initial conditions diverge exponentially with time, leading to unpredictable behavior. Farmer draws parallels between chaos theory and real-world examples like the weather, highlighting how chaotic systems exhibit sensitivity to initial conditions and intricate dynamics.
Transition from Santa Cruz to Pioneering Complex Systems Research
Following his work at Santa Cruz on chaos theory, Farmer delves into his transition to Los Alamos where he founded the complex systems group. He explores various aspects of chaos, ranging from low-dimensional chaos to more intricate patterns. Farmer's research extends to preserving periodicity within chaos and studying the dynamics of high-dimensional chaotic systems.
Complexity Economics and Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels
In his pursuit of complexity economics, Farmer shifts his focus to modeling the economy using non-traditional frameworks distinct from mainstream economics. He discusses the critical role of complexity economics in guiding the transition away from fossil fuels towards sustainable energy solutions. Farmer's analysis emphasizes the importance of swift technological advancements and multidisciplinary approaches to facilitate a seamless shift towards renewable energy sources.
J. Doyne Farmer is Director of the Complexity Economics programme at the Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School, Baillie Gifford Professor in the Mathematical Institute at the University of Oxford and an External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute.
In this episode, Doyne discusses his journey from chaos theory to complexity economics. He shares his experience developing agent-based models for the economy and talks about the importance of multidisciplinary work and applying complexity science principles to economics and climate change.