Author Archives: complexplanet
Returning Soon
It’s funny how the best laid plans of mice and men “aft times gang aglay.” This blog has been in abeyance a while because its authors were otherwise occupied. But the planet is getting ever more complex. Ask the majority … Continue reading
Heads I Win, Tails You Lose
I live in a very conservative state. Most of the people I meet resent the Federal Government and strongly opposed the Troubled Asset Relief Program that they see as a bailout of overpaid Wall Street bankers who made bad bets … Continue reading
Sustainable Capitalism is Not That Simple
Gore and Blood (what a pair of names for a polite discussion of sustainability!) have written “A Manifesto for Sustainable Capitalism.” In it they define sustainable capitalism as “a framework that seeks to maximize long-term economic value by reforming markets … Continue reading
Leading in Complexity
We constantly hear that there is a dearth of leadership in this country, that David Cameron needs to lead in the UK, that we need leaders to save us from ourselves. What is leadership in a complex society? Is it … Continue reading
A Constitutional Problem
Many Tea Party supporters carry a miniature copy of the U.S. Constitution in their pocket as they complain about how Washington does business. They want spending reigned in—except for the programs that they like or depend on—and the deficit reduced. … Continue reading
Irrational Irritation
According to at least one commentator “everybody, everywhere” is “upset over the economy.” It may be true, although the article actually shows that only Republicans and older people are actually angry. But no sane person should be angry at the … Continue reading
Disaster Afoot?
Flooding in Pakistan, smoldering peat fires in Russia shrouding Moscow in thick smoke, and drought in Europe. Is this what climate change looks like? US income inequality growing, profits rising as a share of national income, unemployment staying high, the … Continue reading
Reduce the Cost of Banking
In a column in the Financial Times, John Kay comments that the financial innovations that were much lauded in the 1990s and that contributed to the 2008 financial meltdown were designed to manage risks that it caused. They do nothing … Continue reading
Malefactors of Great Power
On this 234th celebration of the Declaration of Independence, it is appropriate to look at what the Founding Fathers left out of their declaration and the subsequent constitution. Today we need protections against new Malefactors of Great Power. The US … Continue reading
Thaler Agrees
The noted professor of economics and behavioral science at the University of Chicago agrees with our post “Too Complex to Govern.” See his comments in the New York Times about complexity in various modern social systems. As Thaler comments: “Neither … Continue reading
