3. Understanding the Metabolism of Civilization

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents ix
3. Acknowledgments xi
4. List of Illustrations xiii
5. Prologue xv
6. Introduction 1
7. Part I: What Is Complexity Economics?
8. Introduction 15
9. 1. What is a Complex System? 19
10. 2. The Economy is a Complex System 42
11. 3. Understanding the Metabolism of Civilization 48
12. 4. How Simulations Help us Understand the Economy 73
13. Part II: Standard Economics ⇔ Complexity Economics
14. Introduction 91
15. 5. A Lightning Summary of Standard Economics 93
16. 6. Modeling an Uncertain and Complicated Economy 108
17. 7. Why Is the Economy Always Changing? 123
18. Part III: The Financial System
19. 8. Inefficient Markets 139
20. 9. The Self- Referential Market 161
21. 10. Ecology and Evolution in Finance 175
22. 11. How Credit Causes Financial Turbulence 191
23. Part IV: Climate Economics
24. Introduction 221
25. 12. How we Learned to Predict Weather and Climate 223
26. 13. Climate Economics and Technological Progress 234
27. Part V: Modeling for a Better Future
28. Introduction 255
29. 14. Guidance to Solve Some of Our Big Problems 257
30. 15. Removing the Roadblocks 270
31. 16. Becoming a Conscious Civilization 277
32. Bibliography 283
33. Notes 309
34. Index 341