tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910834.post4517603026286310327..comments2023-10-15T08:40:12.715-05:00Comments on Interdisciplinary World: Epidemics and Economies -- Network Theory, Constructal Theory, and Spontaneous Order TheoryTroy Camplinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16515578686042143845noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910834.post-17219933715414729562012-04-20T11:50:40.222-05:002012-04-20T11:50:40.222-05:00I think more and more epidemic models, precisely b...I think more and more epidemic models, precisely because they are network/constructal models (even when not explicitly acknowledged as such), are going to be used to describe the spread of idea, etc. <br /><br />Of course, there are some specifics of epidemic models that seem unique to them -- such as weakened hosts giving rise to advantageous infections, differences between those diseases that kill the host vs. those that do not -- which are in fact quite applicable to a situation such as the rise of Keynesianism (and its fall when, once again, it fails).Troy Camplinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16515578686042143845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910834.post-80408754695074978462012-04-18T20:28:55.262-05:002012-04-18T20:28:55.262-05:00It is interesting that Henry Farrell and John Quig...It is interesting that Henry Farrell and John Quiggin have recently used an epidemic model to discuss the return to influence of Keynesian deficit spending policies in the wake of the global financial crisis and the subsequent return of views more favourable to fiscal restraint (link <a href="http://crookedtimber.org/2012/03/09/keynesianism-in-the-great-recession/" rel="nofollow">available here</a>.<br /><br />I don't think they make the point that the return to popularity of deficit spending provides an example of a situation where the spread of the virus tends to be self correcting because it kills the host.Winton Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07383561940886657594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910834.post-89115772174125478112012-04-11T10:47:22.263-05:002012-04-11T10:47:22.263-05:00Roots like potatoes and grains like corn are high ...Roots like potatoes and grains like corn are high energy foods, and thus are cheap foods, allowing the poor to receive more nutrition, so foods like those should not be surprising. <br /><br />Hot peppers have a slightly different story. Spices have always been popular because they help to cover the taste of slightly spoiled food. Hot peppers are especially good at this. (This is why BBQ evolved in the American South and Southwest.) Further, not peppers have antibiotic properties, which means both the flavor and effect of slightly spoiled food can be fought with hot peppers. So, again, it should not be surprising they spread quickly, especially through places with warm climates.Troy Camplinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16515578686042143845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7910834.post-81759515771475189592012-04-11T09:02:50.873-05:002012-04-11T09:02:50.873-05:00I am amazed at how new world have been integrated ...I am amazed at how new world have been integrated into the cuisines in very remote places. Things like potatoes, peppers and corn. Hot peppers in particular seemed have become major foods in very remote parts of Asia and Africa. They must travel very quickly.JWOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00004178958481335795noreply@blogger.com