Endogenize

Endogenize is a term used in various fields, including economics, sociology, and biology, to describe the process of making something internal or endogenous to a system, rather than external or exogenous. An endogenous factor is one that originates within the system and is influenced by other factors within that same system. Conversely, an exogenous factor originates outside the system and is not influenced by the system's internal dynamics.

In economics, endogenizing a variable means explaining it through the model's own determinants rather than treating it as given or determined by outside forces. For example, in a basic economic model, population growth might be treated as exogenous. A more complex model might attempt to endogenize population growth by relating it to factors like income levels, education, or healthcare availability, which are all part of the economic system.

In sociology, endogenization can refer to how social phenomena become ingrained within a culture or society. For instance, a social norm can be endogenized when it becomes a widely accepted and internalized behavior, influencing individuals' actions without explicit external enforcement.

In biology, endogenization can describe the process by which a substance or process becomes part of an organism's natural functioning. This might involve genes becoming integrated into a genome or a physiological process becoming regulated internally. The core idea across these disciplines is the shift from external influence to internal determination or integration.