Introduction
It is not surprising that the crisis phenomena continue to destroy world
economics. The economic science, not possessing the logical and harmonious
theory of cost, cannot offer effective measures for struggling against crisis.
Moreover, the majority of applied measures only aggravates it. In this article the new concept of the economic theory and the
new theory of cost will be proposed.
The small size of this introduction article does not allow to consider
in details the questions mentioned in it, but we will try to specify the main
principles of the proposed information economic theory.
Entropy growth as the progress purpose
What can be the main indicator characterising progress and degree of
development? We suppose, that the main
indicator of progress is freedom, but freedom in a broad sense which is
characterised by a number of
possibilities. The number of possible conditions is characterised by entropy
size. Therefore entropy growth is the
aim of evolution.
The entropy growth is considered
to lead to chaos . This erroneous opinion is generated by false analogies with
thermodynamic system. But thermodynamic entropy-is very specific. It defines
growth of possible conditions of atoms provided that entropy of the whole
system does not increase. As a result, growth of thermodynamic entropy leads to
that at a considerable quantity of possibilities for atoms, for the system, as
a whole, there is only one condition
possible. And it means, that information entropy of the whole system is equal
to zero. This condition is called as "thermal (heat) death», and its
distinctive feature is not maximum, but zero information entropy of the whole
system. Thus, reduction of information entropy which further we will call
simply entropy, - is bad, and the entropy increase - is good.
When we analyze entropy, it is necessary to distinguish various levels.
System elements can have high entropy, and system - low, just as vice versa. In
inorganic nature there is a tendency of increase in entropy on a low level, and
entropy reduction at higher level. In a range, this tendency also can lead to heat
death of system. But if entropy growth - is the universal aim of progress then during
material world evolution a way to
increase entropy at higher levels should
be found.
The origin of life is- the solution of a problem of transferring entropy
from lower level to higher. The
behaviour of a living mouse, is much more various and is unpredictable, in
comparison with a small group of molecules of which it consists. Change in one
molecule which is in nervous system, can lead to change in behaviour of the
mouse and as a consequence to changes at macro-level. And now all the surface
of the earth, and not only that,
unpredictably changes. Entropy is transferred from micro-level to
macro-level due to living beings.
One more "thermodynamic" delusion is that the so called new
connections (ties) between elements and new structures obligatory reduce
entropy of elements, but this is not so. A modern human being, , coming to his
or her working place, functions within the limits and rigid ones, but in
exchange he or she receives a lot of new
possibilities, receiving the payment for
work and free time. Thus, new
connections can increase labour productivity that gives additional
possibilities and free time. A savage
living in a wood, is constantly occupied by search of food and his entropy is, much lower, than that of a civilised man, despite lacking numerous
communications and restrictions.
Besides, new communications and structures can create new institutes increasing entropy in a
society. Each new institute – is a new degree of freedom, for the society as a
whole and for the members of that society. Unlike the savage, a modern man can
be engaged in art, science, politics, sports etc. Thus, new
communications in a society increase entropy of a modern person, in comparison
with a savage, at the expense of increase in labour productivity and growth of
number of social institutes.
Supporters of full employment at
any cost sometimes assert, that the increase in labour productivity leading to
unemployment - harms economy. However now, when we have defined the main
criterion of progress, the inaccuracy of this statement is obvious. And hence
the necessity to increase the number of institutes in a society for the
increase of entropy and further progress
– is the conclusion not so obvious, but true.
The higher entropy of a system, the higher its adaptation to external
conditions, and higher its resistance to threats of the environment. During
disasters or military threats the
society unites. It is possible to say, that members of a society transfer
the entropy to the state, losing entropy
themselves and becoming only obedient
performers. Further entropy can be transferred to the opposite direction - from
the society to its members.
This process of transfer of entropy from one level to another, often,
has cyclic character. First the entropy of the community increases, at the
expense of reduction of possibilities of its members, and then vice versa, the cycle again repeats. Thus, the community
eliminates external problems and satisfies requirement of the members for
increase in personal entropy. But if the given group of people copes with all
external threats only personal entropy will increase , and entropy of community
will steadily decrease.It will decrease to such extent, that it cannot resist
to new, unexpected threat. Many
civilisations were ruined in such a way.
And the last, that would be desirable to say about entropy in this small
article. Entropy – is the growth of possibilities, and, hence, a necessary
condition for the development. Besides, entropy – is at the same time the goal
and purpose of the development. Hence, the big entropy leads still to greater entropy increase. This is the explanation of
the exponential character of the development
of mankind.
The cost theory
Now let us consider the cost theory. Imagine a person in droughty place.
The more he is thirsty the less is
probability that he will be engaged in
something except water search, and his entropy will decrease. Having received
water, the person will increase the entropy to initial level or above it, and
this increase in entropy will be more the more desire he had had before that.
Thus, cost is – the quantity of increase in entropy. The greater expected increase of the entropy, caused by goods gain, the greater
is its cost.
The more the person wishes something, the less his entropy is, and it increases
much greater, when the person receives the desired.
Drawing 1
Now imagine an exchange of water for bread. One person has wanted water,
and another - bread. As a result of an exchange both of them increase their
entropy. Thus, the result of a fair exchange - growth of entropy of all
participants of the transaction. Hence, an exchange - a way to increase entropy.
And entropy as we remember, - an embodiment of the general blessing. There is
much more sense in it, than in existing theories of cost according to which
people exchange, with something equal, say, value, work expenses, etc. What for to
exchange anything equal?!
Standard display of process of an exchange is the supply and demand
schedule. And though it is a question of sale and purchase, as a matter of fact it is an exchange. It is
considered, that an ideal point of the market is the point of the balance,
being at the point of intersection of a supply and demand. But what does this
point mean? It means, that the seller would not begin to sell cheaper, and the buyer-buy more expensively.
Practically, it is a point of the least satisfaction from the transaction which
receives both the seller, and the buyer. It is a point of the least entropy
which is received by participants of the transaction. As a matter of fact, a
balance point - the worst point of the market.
Drawing 2
In the process of formation, the market moves to the point of balance
below a line of demand and above an offer line, at this time both buyers and sellers
are satisfied to a greater extent, than
in a balance point. But if it is not the monopoly the market will tend to a
balance point all the time, that is it
will spoil in due course. Therefore the greatest entropy is generated by the
young, dynamical markets. And the old markets which have already been in a
point of balance, - generate the minimum volume of entropy and, as a matter of
fact, are problematic.
Business cycles
The most stunning feature of entropy is that it should be reduced before
being increased. It is possible to consider an investment as analogue of this
process. Before receiving any sum, it is necessary to spend the smaller sum.
And the bigger sum we invest, the bigger profit we may expect. The Same
concerns entropy. Before reaching
something, that will give us greater
freedom and greater entropy, it is
necessary to sacrifice freedom for some
time. For example, in order to have the possibility to travel on water, it is
necessary to construct a boat. During its construction, your entropy will
reduce. To get food and to become free from it, it is necessary to work as well, having
reduced freedom and entropy etc.
Drawing 3
This schedule is similar to drawing 1. Cyclic character is the basic
feature of increase of entropy. As a matter of fact, it is a unique way of
increase of entropy at macro-level.
Thus, if you wish to increase entropy, you should reduce it. If the
society does not presume considerable decrease in entropy then the subsequent
growth will be insignificant. Therefore more developed economics have more possibilities for further development. Money goe - to money.
It is impossible to increase entropy gradually, therefore the attempts to completely smooth business cycles - are
harmful. The state during recession does not need to try to keep gross national
product in the former volume, stimulating demand. It is necessary to
"permit" recession, but thus not to admit export of resources and
destruction of institutes because both resources, and institutes are necessary
for the subsequent growth.
Money
If at first one participant of the market has sold the goods to other
participant, and then , bought something
with the obtained money it is possible to consider the transaction equivalent
to an exchange. But long time can pass between reception of money and
acquisition of any goods with it, and
consumer ability of money can change. As a result the person will not receive those goods which he counted on. The possibility of such
situation, is the basic problem of monetary circulation.
If to consider this situation in terms of the model of a simple exchange it will look
so, as if having agreed on an exchange, one participant would satisfy the
stipulated conditions, and another – would not. It will lead to redistribution
of riches and to collapse of economic relations. Use of money, in modern
conditions, without the due control will easily lead to similar situations. And
namely this has led to modern crisis. And "deceit" is aggravated by
that they try to solve a problem in the same way which has led to this problem.
In order not to be "deceived" in expectations one should receive something in exchange.
In example it looks as: the person
works, expecting to buy the car and the house, but inflation "eats"
this money. If he cannot buy the car he should allow himself to buy something
else that will allow him to receive freedom and entropy not smaller than before.
New values are necessary.
The conclusion
We suggest to study economic processes, studying change of entropy of
economic systems at various levels. We consider, that the purpose of evolution
of any system including entropy growth is economic. At microlevel such growth
is provided by laws of physics, at
macrolevel by- activity of living beings
and activity of various groups of living beings, and in the sphere of spiritual development - personal entropy
increases due to reduction of passions
and desires.
P.S. Translated from Russian. I will consider
a proposal from publishers and magazines.
andreyshvets@mail.ru
andreyshvets@mail.ru
YES! ANDREY!
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