SURPLUS VALUES IN INFORMATION ECOSYSTEMS

Abstract

A model of surplus values within information ecosystems is presented. The model is based on the classical definition of surplus value. However, as this definition was developed within a manufacturing industry context, some modifications are necessary to adopt it to the context of information ecosystems, e.g. by taking into account that products are "virtual" rather than physical. Just as in agent-based computational economics, here the economics is modelled as evolving systems of autonomous interacting agents in an evolutionary framework. In this way the resulting model is able to capture more dynamic scenarios. The model is formally specified in terms of price, profit, and group gaining functions and is applied to some examples of societies of selfish agents in antagonistic groups to illustrate its dynamic properties. Moreover, the paper show how the model builds upon labour theory of value and contrasts it to consumer value models.