When slower is faster
It synthesizes insights for researchers studying complex systems, but is incremental as it reviews existing studies without new results.
The paper reviews the 'slower is faster' (SIF) effect, where systems perform worse as components try to optimize individually, and identifies common features across phenomena like traffic and social dynamics.
The slower is faster (SIF) effect occurs when a system performs worse as its components try to do better. Thus, a moderate individual efficiency actually leads to a better systemic performance. The SIF effect takes place in a variety of phenomena. We review studies and examples of the SIF effect in pedestrian dynamics, vehicle traffic, traffic light control, logistics, public transport, social dynamics, ecological systems, and adaptation. Drawing on these examples, we generalize common features of the SIF effect and suggest possible future lines of research.