Six Sources of Collapse (Spectrum)

Hadlock, Charles R.

ISBN 10: 0883855798 / ISBN 13: 9780883855799

Published by The Mathematical Association of America, 2013

About this Item

An accessible investigation into the mathematics behind collapse processes, ranging from crashing financial markets to extreme weather to ecological disasters. Series: Spectrum. Num Pages: 220 pages, 73 b/w illus. 4 colour illus. 6 tables. BIC Classification: PBWH. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). Dimension: 260 x 176 x 17. Weight in Grams: 550. . 2012. Hardcover. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Seller Inventory # V9780883855799

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Six Sources of Collapse (Spectrum)
• Publisher: The Mathematical Association of America
• Publication Date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0883855798
• ISBN 13: 9780883855799
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Beginning with one of the most remarkable ecological collapses of recent times, that of the passenger pigeon, this book surveys collapse processes across the entire spectrum of the natural and man-made world. The reader is taken through extreme weather events, crashing financial markets and companies, the chaotic nature of Earth's orbit, revolutionary political change, the spread of disease and many other fascinating cases. The author's key observation is the consistent occurrence of one or more of six fundamental dynamics ('six sources of collapse'), all of which can be best described and investigated using fundamental mathematical concepts which include low probability events, group dynamics, evolutionary games, instability, nonlinearity and network effects. The exposition assumes a minimal mathematical background, but even professional mathematicians are likely to get rich insights from the range of examples. This book will also be of interest to readers in business and finance, engineering, ecology and political science.

About the Author

Charles Hadlock has worked as a risk consultant in the chemical, power, transportation and mining industries. As the dean of a business school, he witnessed collapses of corporations, currencies and markets. Combined with his scientific background, interdisciplinary collaborative work and extensive management experience at the top levels of corporations and governments, he has a uniquely broad perspective on collapse processes. He has previously authored an award-winning monograph on field theory and an acclaimed text on mathematical modelling in environmental management.