Ricardo's theory of comparative advantage represents one of the most fundamental results of economics. It explains when a division of labor between different actors (individuals, companies, etc.) can be beneficial for all parties involved, regardless of further efficiency gains through reduced setup times, economies of scale, or technical progress. For this reason, the theorem is sometimes also called the
law of association.
However, the theorem in its usual economic formulation is difficult to understand and is not easily generalizable beyond use cases with two actors and two goods. In this book, it is therefore first converted into a more intuitive, result-equivalent competence-based formulation based on the
fundamental assumption of Competence-based Theory of Evolution. And with this, Ricardo's theorem can - as is shown - be transformed into an easily generalizable and more understandable
Competence-based Ricardo theorem.
The competence-based version of Ricardo's theorem is finally applied to the eusocial organization of insect social states. Similar to the patriarchal sexual division of labor in humans, in such societies there is a division of labor between social and reproductive tasks, but only within the female sex. It therefore makes sense to examine such divisions of labor using the means of Ricardo's theorem. The results obtained are in line with biological observation, but not with the explanations and predictions of the established evolutionary biological theories.
The reasons presented are so compelling that the inclusive fitness theory (kin selection) can be considered falsified.
Franz Josef Radermacher, Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science, Member of the Club of Rome on
Competence-based Theory of Evolution:
"This is an outstanding work. It offers a comprehensive exploration of the concept of evolution, encompassing general superorganisms, including businesses, states, and all of humanity - a theme that has always been of particular importance to me."
Gerhard Vollmer, Professor of Physics and Philosophy, Co-Founder of Evolutionary Epistemology on
Competence-based Theory of Evolution:
"It seems to me that this is the best generalization of the concept of evolution so far."
