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Diversity and Optimality

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  • Lu Hong
  • Scott E. Page

Abstract

In this paper, we construct a general model of diverse problem solvers of limited abilities. We use this model to derive two main results: (1) a collection of diverse, bounded problem solvers can locate optimal solutions to difficult problems and (2) a collection of problem solvers of diverse abilities tends to jointly outperform a collection of high ability problem solvers, where a problem solver's ability equals her expected individual problem. Submitted to: American Economic Review.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu Hong & Scott E. Page, 1998. "Diversity and Optimality," Research in Economics 98-08-077e, Santa Fe Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:wop:safire:98-08-077e
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Alberto Alesina & Eliana La Ferrara, 2003. "Ethnic Diversity and Economic Performance," Harvard Institute of Economic Research Working Papers 2028, Harvard - Institute of Economic Research.
    4. Usman Khalid & Mohammad Amin, 2023. "The impact of ethnic fractionalisation on labor productivity: Does firm size matter?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(7), pages 2213-2249, October.
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    6. Ying, Zheng & Liu, Shibao & Bao, Shuming & Zhou, Jianbo, 2017. "Religious diversity and regional development in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 1-9.
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    8. Claudio Fassio & Sona Kalantaryan & Alessandra Venturini, 2020. "Foreign Human Capital and Total Factor Productivity: A Sectoral Approach," Review of Income and Wealth, International Association for Research in Income and Wealth, vol. 66(3), pages 613-646, September.
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    10. Miguel Lopes & Patricia Palma & Miguel e Cunha, 2011. "Tolerance is Not Enough: The Moderating Role of Optimism on Perceptions of Regional Economic Performance," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 102(2), pages 333-350, June.
    11. 'Alvaro Romaniega, 2023. "Fatal errors and misuse of mathematics in the Hong-Page Theorem and Landemore's epistemic argument," Papers 2307.04709, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2025.

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    Keywords

    Diversity; bounded rationality;

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