Value, institutional complementarity and variety in coupled socio-ecological systems

Taking an interdisciplinary and complex systems approach, theoretical ground is prepared for bridging the divide between economic value assessments and adequate policy responses - the deviation problem. A conceptual framework is developed which explains how plural values emerge in a variety of interaction domains and how deviation problems in value assessments are created and can be overcome by means of institutional complementarities. Conceptualizing value as an emergent property of diverse behavioral patterns resolves the deviation problem, turns attention to behavioral assessments rather than value assessments and opens up the valuation toolbox for methods from the behavioral sciences. Conventional economic valuation approaches, especially benefit transfer methods are analyzed with respect to their ability to overcome the value deviation problem and the development of a comprehensive societal valuation system is proposed which builds on knowledge of behavioral instead of value assessments.