This is hardly a new idea.<p>I recommend the classic sociology paper <i>Robust Action and the Rise of the Medici, 1400–1434</i>, <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;home.uchicago.edu&#x2F;~jpadgett&#x2F;papers&#x2F;published&#x2F;robust.pdf" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;home.uchicago.edu&#x2F;~jpadgett&#x2F;papers&#x2F;published&#x2F;robust.p...</a>