Differing World-Views and Collective Action: The Case of Research

This essay combines constitutional choice and the sociologyof science. People do not only differ in preferences but alsoin worldviews. In order to steer research, society needs a basicsocial contract establishing a triple smallest common denominator.First: the provision with malleable resources is the best approximationto a common good to strive for. Second: formal procedures shouldbe used to determine the facts relevant to the question. Third:the maximization of malleable resources is the closest approximationto the incentives of those involved. If a hypothetical constitutionalassembly reaches an agreement on these points, it can designappropriate rules for research.     

Morphogenetic economics: Change- amplification by causal loops

The monetarist, Keynesian, and supply side theories are based on the concept of equilibria. But in reality the relations among variables may build causal loops that are change-amplifying. The morphogenetic economic the ory includes in its analysis both change-amplifying and change-counteracting causal loops. In the existing economic theories, the major policy tools are money supply and government expenditure. But in the morphogenetic economics, some other elements can be seen as effective policy tools, depending on the node factor, the velocity, and the strength of the causal loops they belong to. The present overdependence on money supply or government expenditure as main tools of economic policy is inadequate. Furthermore, the morphogenetic economics differs from the existing economic theories in its calculation of the level of equilibria and of crowdingout effects.     

Interpretive structural modeling—A useful tool for technology assessment?

Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) is a computer based technique for helping small groups develop graphical representations of complex systems. In this paper, the rationale for the use of Interpretative Structural Modeling in activities such as technology assessment is developed and the basic concepts underlying the technique are explored. Several applications of ISM are described and from these experiences some observations are made about the nature and effectiveness of the ISM process and product. ISM was found to provide its users with a systematic and comprehensive method for integrating group judgments in the development of “first-cut‘ structural models. At the same time, however, the technique was found to be relatively inflexible and may, in some instances, inhibit group processes. Possible directions for the development of less rigid methods are suggested.