Viewing the economy as an ecosystem

In an ecosystem, we have many different species at various levels of energy usage, each preying on several species beneath it. At the top are the alpha predators. Within each species, small populations of organisms work symbiotically to function more efficiently in the face of adversity.

The ecosystem evolves over time as individual organisms within those units invent new genes that give them greater fitness within the existing ecosystem. If the new genes are particularly useful, they may see their genes not only spread among their community, but lead to a cascade of further adaptations and the creation of a new species.

Consider the following relationship between concepts in an ecosystem and concepts in a healthy economy:

• species ~ industry
• community ~ company
• organism ~ person

In capitalism, we have many different industries at various levels, each providing goods and services to several industries more directly serving consumers. At the top are the banking and political industries. Within industries, companies bring together groups of people to function more efficiently in the face of competition.

The economy evolves over time as inventors within companies create new ideas providing greater utility within the existing economy. If the ideas are particularly successful, they may see the idea not only spread throughout their company, but lead to a series of breakthroughs and the establishment of a new industry.

Notice that our mapping preserves a few pieces of nontrivial structure:

• predator eating prey ~ company providing goods or services to multiple lower industries at a cheaper price than what it would cost those industries to handle things themselves.
• alpha predators regulate the rest of the ecosystem ~ banking and political industries jointly regulate the rest of the economy
• asking the people to regulate the behavior of the banks or politicians ~ asking the grass to regulate the behavior of the lions

Technology is an invasive species.

Much as an invasive species comfortably eats those beneath it, the technology industry provides valuable services to other industries. Critical to the success of an invasive species is that it have a defense against the alpha predators. While the banking and political industries have tried to eat tech, tech has had little use for the services they’ve offered.

But what is most special about technology as an invasive species is that it doesn’t simply eat a few other species with impunity — it eats everything with impunity. Technology is not merely the Cane Toad of Australia or the Burmese Python of Florida. It’s appetite extends across the entire ecosystem. Technology is the most invasive of species — humans. It’s destroying biodiversity the world over, and it shows no signs of stopping.