Resilient thinking & the paradox of optimization

by Brian Walker.

"In theory, an efficient economy optimally produces the things people want and value. However, the paradox of optimization is that optimization is often applied too narrowly. Systems like the one that efficiently hunts down sea otters are efficient in that they optimize resources for a narrow set of interests – in this case, otter pelts.

Such narrow goals lead to a loss of resilience in a business, an ecosystem or the world economy. More simply, a system that sustains timber yields but not the other benefits of a healthy forest does not really generate maximum value for society. This is the paradox of optimization."

HT: Resilient science