Abstract
Gardner and Ashby1 have suggested that large complex systems which are assembled (connected) at random may be expected to be stable up to a certain critical level of connectance, and then, as this increases, to suddenly become unstable. Their conclusions were based on the trend of computer studies of systems with 4, 7 and 10 variables.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
204,58 € per year
only 4,01 € per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gardner, M. R., and Ashby, W. R., Nature, 228, 784 (1970).
Margalef, R., Perspectives in Ecological Theory (University of Chicago, 1968).
May, R. M., Math. Biosci., 12, 59 (1971).
Wigner, E. P., Proc. Fourth Canad. Math. Cong., Toronto, 174 (1959).
Mehta, M. L., Random Matrices, 12 (Academic Press, New York, 1967).
Ginibre, J., J. Math. Phys., 6, 44 (1965).
Margalef, R., Perspectives in Ecological Theory, 7 (University of Chicago, 1968).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MAY, R. Will a Large Complex System be Stable?. Nature 238, 413–414 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/238413a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/238413a0


