Quasiregulation

Quasiregulation refers to a phenomenon observed in some complex systems where emergent order or stability arises without explicit, centralized control or a rigid, predefined set of rules. It is a form of self-organization where interactions between individual components lead to predictable, system-level behaviors that resemble regulation. This is distinct from formal regulation, which involves a governing body or explicit laws dictating behavior.

In quasiregulation, the "rules" are often implicit, arising from the collective behavior of agents responding to local information and simple interaction protocols. Examples can be found in various fields. In biology, schooling behavior in fish or flocking in birds demonstrates quasiregulation; individuals follow simple rules regarding proximity to neighbors, leading to coordinated group movements. In economics, market prices can emerge through the decentralized decisions of buyers and sellers, exhibiting a form of quasiregulation of supply and demand.

The key characteristic of quasiregulation is the absence of a central commander. Instead, the system's order is a byproduct of distributed decision-making and feedback loops. While the outcome appears regulated, it is not the result of conscious planning or external enforcement. This concept is important for understanding how complex systems can maintain stability and exhibit functional organization in the absence of traditional hierarchical control structures.