Impact of Environmental Dynamics on Economic Evolution: Uncertainty, Risk Aversion, and Policy

The general question of how environmental dynamics affect the behavioral interaction in an evolutionary economy is considered. To this end, a basic model of a dynamic multi-sector economy is developed where the evolution of investment strategies depends on the diversity of investment strategies, social connectivity and relative contribution of sector specific investments to production. Four types of environmental dynamics are examined that differ in how gradual and how frequent environmental change occurs. Numerical analysis shows how the socially optimal level of diversity increases with the frequency and rapidity of the changes. When there is uncertainty about which type of environmental dynamics will prevail, the socially optimal level of diversity increases with the degree of risk aversion of the policy maker or the society.