> It would be so cool if someone could apply game theory for mortals that could digest these systems and show how to make them more "fair". It may be an impossible task but it seems worthy of exploration.
I consider this to be a hard, but clearly not an impossible task. What I rather consider to be nigh impossible is to get a good definition on what we actually want to achieve by creating these systems. There is where in my opinion the true difficulties lie.
Just to give some shallow examples:
Do we want to make this purpose be quite fixed (say, for decades) (and create a system around this purpose)? Then it will be quite hard to change the ship's directions if because of some event the economic environment changes a lot.
On the other hand: do you want to make the system's purpose very flexible, so that the system can react to such circumstances? You can bet that this will be gamed towards the political whims of the people inside the system.
On the other hand: if you want to get a glimpse at system ideas that did "work out", look at long-existing religions, or entrepreneurial dynasties with a history of centuries. It should be obvious that these examples are far off from a "democratic", "particapative" spirit (which perhaps should be a lesson for anybody designing such systems).
My goal would be to "maximize prosperity for all". It could be better qualified and defined, but making sure honest hard-working people don't get screwed over and cheaters don't prosper.
I think the goal should be the goal, as the circumstances will continue to evolve. That is, the process should serve the people rather than the other way around.
Sorry, I'm just an old naive idealist and would like to cling to hope that we can move society forward in a positive direction.
I consider this to be a hard, but clearly not an impossible task. What I rather consider to be nigh impossible is to get a good definition on what we actually want to achieve by creating these systems. There is where in my opinion the true difficulties lie.
Just to give some shallow examples:
Do we want to make this purpose be quite fixed (say, for decades) (and create a system around this purpose)? Then it will be quite hard to change the ship's directions if because of some event the economic environment changes a lot.
On the other hand: do you want to make the system's purpose very flexible, so that the system can react to such circumstances? You can bet that this will be gamed towards the political whims of the people inside the system.
On the other hand: if you want to get a glimpse at system ideas that did "work out", look at long-existing religions, or entrepreneurial dynasties with a history of centuries. It should be obvious that these examples are far off from a "democratic", "particapative" spirit (which perhaps should be a lesson for anybody designing such systems).