We propose a general scenario to analyze technological changes in socio-eco
nomic environments. We illustrate the ideas with a model that incorporating
the main trends is simple enough to extract analytical results and. at the
same time, sufficiently complex to display a rich dynamic behavior. Our st
udy shows that there exists a macroscopic observable that is maximized in a
regime where the system is critical, in the sense that the distribution of
events follow power laws. Computer simulations show that, in addition, the
system always self-organizes to achieve the optimal performance in the sta
tionary state.