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The objective of this book is to study the economy as a complex system and to show that the presence of self-reinforcing mechanisms in very different economic problems gives rise to common regularities and common qualitative properties. Dynamic systems of the self-reinforcing type are considered, that is, systems with local positive feedbacks. Economic theory maintains that positive feedbacks can cause multiple equilibria and possible inefficiency.'This book concentrates on the less familiar properties of lock-in, path-dependence and symmetry-breaking.