Classical and Quantum Physics in Selected Economic Models A growing number of economic phenomena are nowadays described with methods known in physics. The most frequently applied physical theories by economists are: (1) the universal gravitation law and (2) the first and second law of thermodynamics. Physical principles can also be applied to the theory of financial markets. Financial markets are composed of individual participants who may be seen to interact as particles in a physical system. This approach proposes a financial market model known as a minority game model in which securities and money are allocated on the basis of price fluctuations, and where selling is best option when the vast majority of investors tend to purchase goods or services, and vice versa. The players who end up being on the minority side win. The above applications of physical methods in economics are deeply rooted in classical physics. However, this paper aims to introduce the basic concepts of quantum mechanics to the process of economic phenomena modelling. Quantum mechanics is a theory describing the behaviour of microscopic objects and is grounded on the principle of wave-particle duality. It is assumed that quantum-scale objects at the same time exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties. The key role in quantum mechanics is played by: (1) the Schrödinger equation describing the probability amplitude for the particle to be found in a given position and at a given time, and as (2) the Heisenberg uncertainty principle stating that certain pairs of physical properties cannot be economic applications of the Schrödinger equation as well as the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. We also try to describe the English auction by means the quantum mechanics methods.
Classical and Quantum Physics in Selected Economic Models A growing number of economic phenomena are nowadays described with methods known in physics. The most frequently applied physical theories by economists are: (1) the universal gravitation law and (2) the first and second law of thermodynamics. Physical principles can also be applied to the theory of financial markets. Financial markets are composed of individual participants who may be seen to interact as particles in a physical system. This approach proposes a financial market model known as a minority game model in which securities and money are allocated on the basis of price fluctuations, and where selling is best option when the vast majority of investors tend to purchase goods or services, and vice versa. The players who end up being on the minority side win. The above applications of physical methods in economics are deeply rooted in classical physics. However, this paper aims to introduce the basic concepts of quantum mechanics to the process of economic phenomena modelling. Quantum mechanics is a theory describing the behaviour of microscopic objects and is grounded on the principle of wave-particle duality. It is assumed that quantum-scale objects at the same time exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties. The key role in quantum mechanics is played by: (1) the Schrödinger equation describing the probability amplitude for the particle to be found in a given position and at a given time, and as (2) the Heisenberg uncertainty principle stating that certain pairs of physical properties cannot be economic applications of the Schrödinger equation as well as the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. We also try to describe the English auction by means the quantum mechanics methods.
On Certain Analogies Between the Laws of Quantum Mechanics and Rules of an English Auction It is a self-evident truth that nowadays a growing number of economic phenomena is described by means of physics methods. The most frequent theories derived from physics and applied to economy are: (1) the universal gravitation law and (2) the first as well as the second law of thermodynamics. The methods of static physics are applicable also to the theory of financial markets. In this case it is assumed that the financial market is composed of single participants interacting as a system of particles. Such approach is associated with a model of financial market otherwise known as a minority game. It is postulated that the process of securities and money allocation is performed on the basis of prices fluctuation, where - if a vast majority of investors tend to purchase goods or services - the sale constitutes a more profitable option, and vice versa. The players who end up on minority side win. At the end of the XX century the economy commenced to apply the laws of quantum mechanics. These laws proved to be useful, in particular when attempting to generalize game theory, which resulted in quantum games. The aim of the paper is to compare the rules and auction mechanisms with selected laws of quantum mechanics. This paper aims also to introduce the basic concepts of quantum mechanics to the process of economic phenomena modeling. Quantum mechanics is a theory describing a behaviour of microscopic objects and is grounded on the principle of wave-particle duality. It is assumed that quantum-scale objects at the same time exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties. The key role in quantum mechanics is played by: (1) the Schrödinger equation describing the probability amplitude for the particle to be found at a given position and at a given time, as well as (2) the Heisenberg uncertainty principle stating that a certain pair of physical properties may not be simultaneously measured to arbitrarily high precision.
Abstract Since Adam Smith, economics has erected a grand edifice upon the foundations of rational agents, equilibrium analysis, and linear causality; however, the 2008 global financial crisis, the European sovereign debt crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic have successively revealed its fundamental limitations when confronted with complex economic phenomena: bubbles that ought not to have existed, crises unforeseen by equilibrium models, non-linear ruptures brought about by technological revolutions, and self-fulfilling expectations—all of which call for a richer theoretical language. This book serves as the foundational introduction to the "Quantum Economics Textbook Series," as well as the first gateway into this entire series. It introduces the methodological framework, mathematical apparatus, and philosophical insights of quantum mechanics to economic analysis, grounding its approach in the core proposition of a practical ontology—that human economic practice itself possesses quantum attributes such as superposition, entanglement, constructibility, uncertainty, and emergence—thereby reconstructing the economic world as a quantum process of superposition and evolution. Six core concepts—superposition, entanglement, measurement collapse, the uncertainty principle, quantum transitions, and emergence—run throughout the work. Quantum economics does not represent a simple negation of classical theory; rather, it constitutes a dialectical sublation: under the classical limit—where decoherence is complete, the measurement basis is fixed, and entanglement vanishes—quantum theory precisely reduces to classical theory. This book comprises five parts and thirty chapters: Part I establishes the paradigm shift and theoretical framework, covering critiques of Newton's worldview, the quantum worldview, a foundational conceptual framework, mathematical foundations, and research methodologies; Part II reconstructs quantum microeconomic theory, encompassing consumers, producers, pricing, markets, the wave-particle duality of markets, quantum games, and welfare economics; Part III builds quantum macroeconomic theory, addressing national income accounting, money, inflation, economic cycles, policy, and open economies; Part IV explores quantum finance and market dynamics, including asset pricing, portfolio management, market sentiment, risk management, and trading theory; Part V extends the scope to organizations, innovation, institutions, development, economic ethics, and the digital economy, while offering insights into the future of this discipline. This volume is intended for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as researchers in economics and related fields, and serves as the essential first volume in the quantum economics series.
Quantum economics is an interdisciplinary field that combines the principles of quantum mechanics and economic theories. The research examines the main theoretical and practical aspects of quantum economics, starting with its theoretical foundations based on the principles of quantum mechanics, such as superposition, uncertainty and entanglement, and ending with practical applications and perspectives for further research. Special attention was paid to the potential impact of quantum technologies on finance, marketing, supply chain management, as well as on macroeconomic planning and policy. It discusses how quantum algorithms can transform traditional approaches in economic research and practice, providing new methods for analyzing complex data, improving forecasting of economic trends, and optimizing decisions under uncertainty. Quantum economics opens up new perspectives for understanding dynamic and interconnected processes in the global economy, which can fundamentally change our perception of economic laws and strategies. It is emphasized that the quantum economy is at the initial stage of its development, and scientists and practitioners face many challenges and questions that need to be solved. In the future, we can expect the development of new tools for economic analysis and decisionmaking based on quantum computing, which will allow us to cope with current and future economic challenges more effectively. The quantum economy can also offer new approaches to risk management and financial security, especially in light of growing cyber threats and the need to protect economic information. Quantum economics is an exciting and promising direction that can significantly enrich both theoretical and applied aspects of economic science.
We analyze complexity of financial (and general economic) processes by comparing classical and quantum-like models for randomness. Our analysis implies that it might be that a quantum-like probabilistic description is more natural for financial market than the classical one. A part of our analysis is devoted to study the possibility of application of the quantum probabilistic model to agents of financial market. We show that, although the direct quantum (physical) reduction (based on using the scales of quantum mechanics) is meaningless, one may apply so called quantum-like models. In our approach quantum-like probabilistic behaviour is a consequence of contextualy of statistical data in finances (and economics in general). However, our hypothesis on "quantumness" of financial data should be tested experimentally (as opposed to the conventional description based on the noncontextual classical probabilistic approach). We present a new statistical test based on a generalization of the well known in quantum physics Bell's inequality.
Newtonian mechanics is the foundation of Classical Physics. Newton’s mechanics, Thermodynamics, Wave theory of Optics and Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory belong to regime of Classical Physics and can be used to explain a wide range of phenomena in the Universe at macroscopic scale. These theories fail spectacularly when applied to phenomenain the atomic and nuclear regime, for example, proton-atom scattering or the flow of electrons in a semiconductor. Quantum mechanics is the most successful scientific theory that has ever been created and it has completely changed our view of the world. The failure of Classical Physics was highlighted by black body radiation and photoelectric effect. Max Planck and Albert Einstein provided explanations of both phenomena based on quantum hypothesis and are thus considered founders of Quantum Physics. The origin of quantum mechanics goes back to the mid-1920s.It was formulated first as matrix mechanics by Werner Heisenberg, Max Born and Pascual Jordan; then as wave mechanics by Louis de Broglie and Erwin Schrödinger; and later on asquantum statistics of subatomic particles by Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein. Combining relativistic mechanics with quantum mechanics, Dirac formulated his relativistic quantum mechanics during 1930s. Uncertainty Principle is thecornerstone of Quantum Physics. The role of randomness in microscopic physical processes shatters the myth that the universe is deterministic. Quantum world is unpredictable in the classical sense and demolishes the idea of an objective universe. The Copenhagen interpretation remains the quantum mechanical formalism that is currently most widely accepted amongst physicists.Quantum theories support cosmic spirit pervading the cosmos and inter – relationship of individuals in the world society. Quantum philosophy is holistic and is going to revolutionize our world-view.
We apply methods of quantum mechanics for mathe-matical modeling of price dynamics at financial mar-ket. We propose to describe behavioral financial factors (e.g., expectations of traders) by using the pilot wave (Bohmian) model of quantum mechanics. Our Bohmian model is a quantum-like model for the financial market, cf. with works of W. Segal, I. E. Segal, E. Haven. Our model expresses complexity of financial market: tra-ditional description of price dynamics is completed by Schrödinger’s dynamics for the pilot wave of expecta-tions of traders. This is a kind of socio-economic model for financial market