Arnold Tustin - Collected Quotes

"Feedback […] is the fundamental principle that underlies all self-regulating systems, not only machines but also the processes of life and the tides of human affairs." (Arnold Tustin, 1952)

"An economic system is not a linear system, and [...] this fact stands in the way of the determination of the parameters of the system by methods that presume linearity, and [...] it introduces great difficulties in the extrapolation from past behaviour for purposes of prediction. [...] Actual economic systems are constantly subjected to change and disturbances, which would result in irregularity." (Arnold Tustin, "The Mechanism of Economic System", 1953)

"The analysis of engineering systems and the understanding of economic structure have advanced since then, and the time is now more ripe to bring these topics into a potentially fruitful marriage." (Arnold Tustin, "The Mechanism of Economic Systems", 1953)

"The striking parallel between the economic models that are currently under discussion and some engineering systems suggests the hope that in some way the rapid progress in the development of the theory and practice of automatic control in the world of engineering may contribute to the solution of the economic problems." (Arnold Tustin, "The Mechanism of Economic Systems", 1953)

"Actual economic systems are constantly subjected to change and disturbances, which would result in irregularity." (Arnold Tustin, "The Mechanism of Economic Systems", 1953)