Quantum economics - UPDATED

One of the speculations I have made from time to time is that the very assumptions underlying neoclassical economic theory are so flawed in comparison with reality that the theory, while elegant, and able to generate wonderfully pretty mathematical graphs, is deeply flawed.

One such problem is that neoclassical economic theory made use of the mathematics of 19th century Newtonian physics. And just as quantum theory and the theory of relativity gave rise to startlingly different results, if one applies 20th century physics to economic theory, the entire notion of equilibrium breaks down, and one sees radically different predicted results.

Now, along comes Professor Avinash D. Persaud and gives a pointed example. Once you import the Heisenberg uncertainty principle into financial risk models, then instead of generating a stable equilibrium, they drive investors over a cliff:

[Some] have questioned why risk models, which are at the centre of financial supervision, failed to avoid or mitigate today’s financial turmoil. There are two answers to this...but many regulators and central bankers chose to ignore them both.

The technical explanation is that market-sensitive risk models used by thousands of market participants work on the assumption that each user is the only person using them....

In today’s flat world, market participants from Argentina to New Zealand have the same data.... [and] move into the favoured markets and out of the unfavoured.... [U]nder the weight of the herd, favoured instruments cannot remain undervalued, uncorrelated and low risk. They are transformed into the precise opposite.

When a market participant’s risk model detects a rise in risk in his portfolio, perhaps because of some random rise in volatility, and he tries to reduce his exposure, many others are trying to do the same thing at the same time with the same assets. A vicious cycle ensues of vertical price falls prompting further selling. Liquidity vanishes down a black hole. The degree to which this occurs is less to do with the precise financial instruments, but more with the depth of diversity of investor behaviour. Paradoxically, the observation of areas of safety in risk models, creates risks and the observation of risk, creates safety.

Quantum physicists will note a parallel with Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.

Policy makers cannot claim to be surprised by all of this. The observation that market-sensitive risk models, increasingly integrated into financial supervision in a prescriptive manner, was going to send the herd off the cliff edge was made soon after the last round of crises. Many policy officials in charge today, responded then that these warnings were too extreme to be considered realistic.

Until neoclassical economic theory is successfully challenged on its basic premises, we will continue to get policy prescriptions which fail to rein in ruinous speculation, and reward the wealthy and powerful at the expense of the average citizen. Recognizing that seemingly small changes in its basic assumptions generate huge differences in results is a necessary start.

UPDATE 4/3/08: Here is another timely example of how the Heisenberg principle should be included in economic models, courtesy of Mike Shedlock, a/k/a Mish today:

While it's true the Fed typically only does what is expected, those expectations become distorted over time by observations of Fed actions.

For example: If market participants are expecting the Fed to cut on weakness and the Fed does, market participants gets into a psychology of expecting more cuts on more weakness. Here is another example: If market participants expect the Fed to cut rates when economic stress occurs, they will takes positions based on those expectations. These expectation cycles can be self reinforcing.

The Observer Affects The Observed

The Fed, in conjunction with all the players watching the Fed, distorts the economic picture. I liken this to Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle where observation of a subatomic particle changes the ability to measure it accurately.

....

A good example of this is the 1% Fed Funds Rate in 2003-2004. It is highly doubtful the market on its own accord would have reduced interest rates to 1% or held them there for long if it did.

What happened in 2002-2004 was an observer/participant feedback loop that continued even after the recession had ended. The Fed held rates rates too low too long. This spawned the biggest housing bubble in history. The Greenspan Fed compounded the problem by endorsing derivatives and ARMs at the worst possible moment.

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Comments

solution is?

if we rely on market prices in our risk models and in value accounting, we must do so on the understanding that in rowdy times central banks will have to become buyers of last resort of distressed assets to avoid systemic collapse. This is the approach we have stumbled upon. Central bankers now consider mortgage-backed securities as collateral for their loans to banks. But the asymmetry of being a buyer of last resort without also being a seller of last resort during the unsustainable boom will only condemn us to cycles of instability

I understand the issue he's describing but what is the solution offered? He mentions get on the regulation agenda right now since we have the results of these inaccurate econometric models currently but what are the specific recommendations?

Has anyone proposed more accurate models as well?

herding behavior

I found his original essay, Sending the herd off the cliff edge: the disturbing interaction between herding and market-sensitive risk management practices.

Herding presents a classic example of the need for intervention. The individual incentives of herding investors create systemic risks. Moreover, if regulators were so coordinated that they behaved like one global regulator, they would be best placed to make an intervention.

So he's saying transparency to see the herd might assist by the public stopping the stampede.

Now this is going to be a grandiose statement, but it seems they also need to add some prediction models that incorporate the sociological elements, the herd in their mathematical models. (disclaimer, that's a general statement, I'm oblivious to what is contained within those risk models in terms of the algorithms!)

Now we are talking folks!

Indeed economics has not been the stagnant science many think in recent years. Get yourself a copy of: The Origin of Wealth by Eric Beinhocker and get reading.

One on the social science side to check out is Robert Wright's work. Nonzero Sum: The Logic of Human Destiny is a good place to start.

Big things are afoot and idiots like Greenspan are about to be exposed for what they are: Charlatans practicing a primitive mumbo-junbo in the interests of their patrons.

Keep in mind Pareto and Smith used math that us physics guys threw in the trash over 400 years ago. Linear equations my aching TI calculator.

More on Heisenberg uncertainty in economics

Here is a paper I found that discusses applications of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle in economics.

If equilibrium is merely a set of probabilities, and the act of any person's observing that equilibrium changes it, that inherently introduces instability into the system.

Re herding. If every market participant uses the same program that monitors herding behavior, then they will still behave like a herd. With the same results.

fence

so in a nutshell, regulation acts as an maxima and minima or fence around the influence of the observation, correct?

Okay....read this for a better understanding of what....

....non-linear, discontinuous functions means in real life. Actually, it's vice-versa as homo economicus does NOT function in a linear, continuous fashion. He/She just doesn't and the results of that range from being unable to consistently pick winners in the market to the apparent fact that every economic entity, corporation etc., has a finite life span.

An example: The 'Beer Distributor' Conundrum

The similarity of what happens here in this example to the Heisenberg principle arises from a different causation than in quantum physics. Or maybe not....

We really don't know enough about the brain's functioning to say.

But we do know a lot more than Smith and Pareto did and that knowledge is being applied more and more every day.

The day is not too far distant when Greenspan, Friedman and their ilk will be regarded as painted and befeathered witch doctors by modern economists working in the field.

Here's Another Flawed Theory!

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