Skip to content

Economists have the correct insight that economics is a…

“Economists have the correct insight that economics is a theory of choice, the key to the story is the variety of options and centralised political control limits the options. The best recipe is adaptive efficiency coping with novel uncertainty in a non-ergodic world, the maintenance of…” quote by Douglass North
Download Open image
“Economists have the correct insight that economics is a theory of choice, the key to the story is the variety of options and centralised political control limits the options. The best recipe is adaptive efficiency coping with novel uncertainty in a non-ergodic world, the maintenance of institutions which enable trial & error experiment to occur, and an effective means of eliminating unsuccessful solutions”

Douglass North

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Economics studies choices; many options foster adaptability, while centralized control limits them. Institutions should enable trial and error under uncertainty.

In simple terms: More options and flexible institutions improve outcomes.

Key Takeaway

Support adaptive institutions.

Themes

economics choice institutional design

Mood

analytical critical

Type

theoretical policy

When to use this quote

  • policy making
  • business strategy
  • public administration

Key Concepts

adaptive efficiency non‑ergodic uncertainty trial‑error learning

Questions to Reflect On

  • What institutions hinder choice?
  • How can we foster adaptive learning?
A Different Perspective

Centralized control can stifle innovation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Douglass North

Explore all 26 Douglass North quotes

More Adaptive quotes

Browse all 84 Adaptive quotes