Information, entropy, and progress: a new evolutionary paradigm

Abstract

Partial Contents: Concepts, Definitions, and Analogies. Entropy & the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Irreversibility in Economics. Information. Theoretical Framework: What is Information? Joint & Conditional Probabilities. Information & Entropy. Physical evolution: From the Universe to the Earth. The Evolution of Matter. The First Picosecond & the Next Three Minutes. From Three Minutes to a Million Years. Geological & Biochemical Evolution. Geological Evolution of the Earth. Chemical Precursors. Digression: Other Unsolved Mysteries. Biological Evolution. Primitive Organisms. The Invention of Sexual Reproduction. Evolutionary Mechanisms & Discontinuities. Evolution in Human Social Systems. The Evolution of Cooperative Behavior. Games & Rational Choice in Social Systems. Evolution in Economic Systems. Evolution & Growth. The Problem of Economic Growth Revisited. Schumpeter's Contribution: Radical Innovation. The Economy as a Self- Organizing Information Processing System. The Analogy with Living Systems. Information Transformation and Value Added. Information Added by Materials Processing. Energy Conversion. Cost of Refining. Morphological Information. Labor as an Information Process. Ergonomic