From complexity to clarity: Eden3's novel perspective on limits to growth

Fifty years after the publication of Limits to Growth (LtG), its scenarios predicting global socio-economic collapse are still relevant. In this study, we extracted key components and processes from the LtG narratives to construct a simple qualitative model based on solely 13 variables and 40 qualitative rules. Our modeling framework enables the computation of all possible system trajectories (scenarios) within a single output once the model is accepted. By retracing all scenarios presented in LtG, our model uncovered highly interconnected trajectories leading to either sustainability or collapse. Through this work, we demonstrate that the co-authors of LtG successfully tackled the challenge of exhaustively representing all conceivable trajectories for the global system based on their core assumptions. Furthermore, our study paves the way for exploring alternative scenarios by applying this comprehensive, yet straightforward framework to newly acquired knowledge. • We capture the essence of the World3 model with just 13 variables and 40 rules. • The model qualitatively replicates and extends all 11 Limits to Growth scenarios. • It unveils the complex structure of the World3 and its crucial assumptions. • The model is insightful, graphically appealing and easy-to-use.