  Classic economic science is reaching the limits of its explanatory powers.
Complexity science uses an increasingly larger set of different methods to
analyze physical, biological, cultural, social, and economic factors, providing
a broader understanding of the socio-economic dynamics involved in the
development of nations worldwide. The use of tools developed in the natural
sciences, such as thermodynamics, evolutionary biology, and analysis of complex
systems, help us to integrate aspects, formerly reserved to the social
sciences, with the natural sciences. This integration reveals details of the
synergistic mechanisms that drive the evolution of societies. By doing so, we
increase the available alternatives for economic analysis and provide ways to
increase the efficiency of decision-making mechanisms in complex social
contexts. This interdisciplinary analysis seeks to deepen our understanding of
why chronic poverty is still common, and how the emergence of prosperous
technological societies can be made possible. This understanding should
increase the chances of achieving a sustainable, harmonious and prosperous
future for humanity. The analysis evidences that complex fundamental economic
problems require multidisciplinary approaches and rigorous application of the
scientific method if we want to advance significantly our understanding of
them. The analysis reveals viable routes for the generation of wealth and the
reduction of poverty, but also reveals huge gaps in our knowledge about the
dynamics of our societies and about the means to guide social development
towards a better future for all.
