Incentives and the needham paradox: An agent-based perspective

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This article discusses how restructured incentives could have inhibited innovation in ancient China and explain the Needham paradox. Agents in a genetic algorithmic game maximize their payoffs by choosing between innovating and studying the Classics. By restructuring incentives toward studying the Classics, initial spurts of innovation are smothered, resulting in a population with all agents studying the Classics. The incentive structure has a statistically and quantitatively significant impact on the expected average payoffs and the strategy profile of the population: the average payoffs for a regime which rewards innovation fluctuate more but are always higher and the strategy profile is varied.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)18-28
Number of pages11
JournalComplexity
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

Keywords

  • Economic history
  • Evolutionary game
  • Genetic algorithm
  • Needham paradox

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Computer Science
  • General

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