Complexity Measurement
Attempts to quantify how complex a system is, by description length, by structure, or by the effort needed to produce it.
Why it matters now
Measurement is the precondition of limitation. An economy cannot self-regulate on an indicator that ignores what it consumes, which is the standing indictment of gross domestic product. Material footprint, ecological footprint, and inclusive wealth accounting are all efforts to measure the right complexity rather than the convenient one.
Where this is happening on Earth
- EuropeAndrey Kolmogorov's description-length complexity, MoscowDefined complexity as the length of the shortest program that produces a pattern.
- North AmericaMurray Gell-Mann's effective complexity, Santa Fe InstituteSeparated genuine structure from mere randomness in a measure of complexity.
- AsiaChina's gross ecosystem product accountingA parallel national account valuing ecosystem services alongside output.
- OceaniaNew Zealand's Living Standards Framework and wellbeing budgetBudget decisions assessed against natural, social, and human capital, not output alone.
- AfricaNatural capital accounting in Botswana and RwandaNational accounts extended to water, minerals, and land under the Gaborone Declaration.
The idea itself
The encyclopedia entry first, then live searches at journals and magazines that keep returning current work on this specific idea.
Current reporting from around the world
Standing feeds at reputable periodicals. These stay fresh on their own, which is why they are here instead of a list of articles that would be out of date within a season.