Giving Groups Control Over the Rules of the Game - in Simulation, in the Lab, and in the Wild

Explore how social systems evolve unpredictably when groups gain control over their own governance structures through this 39-minute conference talk by Seth Frey from the University of California, Davis, presented at the Santa Fe Institute. Examine the psychological, selective, and structural forces that cause governance institutions to drift away from their original intended designs, particularly when power within systems becomes power over the systems themselves. Discover how this phenomenon impacts collective behavior, collective intelligence, and collective action through a comprehensive analysis that combines observational studies, experimental research, and mathematical modeling approaches. Gain insights into the complex dynamics of institutional change and the unintended consequences that emerge when communities are given autonomy over their own rules and regulations.