Ecological Complexity is an international journal devoted to publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed articles on the complex nature of ecological systems, observed and theoretical and special issues on related and emerging topics. In addition to ecological questions, the journal welcomes papers that ask ecological questions by linking natural and social processes at various spatio-temporal scales.
This page collects all citations from this journal, providing an ‘open’ link to access that research paper where possible. The citation for each paper also lists the content of the FRAW site which references that work, with links directly to the paragraph citing the paper. This listing uses the same format as the FRAW Subject Index – and a complete table of the abbreviations used in the listing can be found on the main index page. Note, paywalled links are shown in red, and ‘open’ links are shown in blue.
Joseph A. Tainter, Ecological Complexity, vol.3 no.2 pp.91-103, June 2006.
Social complexity and sustainability
Social complexity and sustainability emerge from successful problem solving, rather than directly from environmental conditions. Social complexity develops from problem solving at all scales from local to national and international. Complexity in problem solving is an economic function, and can both support and hinder sustainability. Sustainability outcomes may take decades or centuries to develop. Historical studies reveal three outcomes to long-term change in problem-solving institutions: collapse, resiliency through simplification, or continuity based on growing complexity and increasing energy subsidies.
