DISCONTINUOUS CHANGE IN MULTILEVEL HIERARCHICAL SYSTEMS

We examine sources and dynamics of discontinuous changes in discrete m ulti-level hierarchical ecological-economic systems. We hypothesize th e anagenetic moment, the creation of a new level of hierarchy, as aris ing from variable entrainment at some level. Bottom-up as well as top- down dynamics are studied and competing theories of the sources of suc h discontinuities are reviewed. Implications for the analysis of compl ex ecological-economic systems are considered depending on whether the y are characterized by single hierarchy, bi-hierarchy, or matrix hiera rchy relationships.