E3 · cycle-001.e3-ken-greedy-marginal-30y

Kenya, greedy, 30 years

100 simulations of 30 rounds from the 2026 position. Kenya decides by the greedy method; the shock and upside library, drawn at random each round.

Model 0.1.0 · graph 0.2.0 · parameters 0.1.0 · seeds 1–100 · elasticity sampled within each bracket

Every simulation · Compare with another experiment · More experiments like this

Not a forecast
Simulations of a structural model with seed parameter values, to compare methods and test the model. Other nations stay at their 2026 ratings throughout.

Outcome across simulations

The median at 2056, with the 10th to the 90th percentile of the 100 simulations under it.

Capability index
7.52 (+0.34)
From 7.18; 5.81 to 8.59
Rank by index
73
From 79; 63 to 102
Domains at Tier 1
0
From 0; 0 to 0
Tier rank
66
From 91; 65 to 86

Capability index by round

Rank by index, by round

Every objective at the position and at the horizon
Objective202610th percentileMedian90th percentileBetter
Capability indexprimary7.185.817.528.59higher
Rank by index796373102lower
Tier rank91656686lower
Domains at Tier 10000higher
Score sum505.8413.7535.3611.4higher
Goal-weighted score505.8413.7535.3611.4higher
Resilient score505.8513.8 (mean score sum over the simulations)higher

The capability index is the mean of the three dimensions, each the mean of its domains, each the mean of its groups. Tiers are Pareto layers within each domain; the tier rank orders nations by domains held at Tier 1, then Tier 2, and so on. The goal-weighted score is the score sum unless the experiment sets a goal. The primary objective is the one the experiment is judged on; every other objective is reported beside it.

Credits

What each round’s credits went on in the median simulation. Across all simulations, build took 14 per cent, buy took 53 per cent, partner took 33 per cent of the 956 credits a simulation spent on actions.

Report

Written from the simulation record by the loop's narrator. Every figure names the query it came from, in square brackets.

Batch cycle-001. Model 0.1.0, graph 0.2.0, parameters 0.1.0. 100 simulations, seeds 1 to 100; probes on 20. Every figure is a distribution over simulations of a structural model with seed parameter values; it shows what the model implies under these settings, not what will happen. Other nations are frozen at their 2026 ratings. No reconstructed historical data is used in this experiment.

Headline

Kenya played 30 rounds from 2026 under the greedy marginal method, with stochastic events, 100 times. Its capability index moved from 7.18 to a median of 7.52 (+0.34), with 90 per cent of simulations between 5.22 and 8.66 [experiment_objectives].

Starting position

In 2026 the nation ranks 79 on the index against the frozen field, holds 0 of nine domains at Tier 1 and has a tier rank of 91. Its base income is 143 credits a year, calibrated so that its 2026 position is affordable with headroom for investment.

What was decided

A simulation spent a median of 965 credits on moves. The five groups that took most were Semiconductors & Advanced Computing (buy, 81 credits, 8.4 per cent); Connectivity, Cyber & Trust Technologies (buy, 59 credits, 6.1 per cent); Fiscal Capacity & Public Finance (partner, 54 credits, 5.6 per cent); Development Cooperation & Global Assistance (buy, 50 credits, 5.2 per cent); Technical & Vocational Skills (build, 48 credits, 5.0 per cent) [experiment_decisions_by_group]. By mode: buy 52 per cent, partner 34 per cent, build 14 per cent [experiment_decisions_by_group]. Concentration of spending (HHI) had a median of 0.047, and the most repeated action appeared in 40 per cent of rounds.

The leading domain by period: rounds 1 to 5, Human Capital; rounds 6 to 10, Trade & Investment; rounds 11 to 15, Critical Technology; rounds 16 to 20, Critical Technology; rounds 21 to 25, Critical Technology; rounds 26 to 30, Critical Technology [experiment_spend_by_period].

The method's chosen action was within 5 per cent of its best alternative in 94 per cent of moves and ahead by more than 25 per cent in 0 per cent [experiment_decision_margins].

What the world did

A median simulation saw 3 shocks and 1 upside events. The most damaging per firing were S06 (45 firings in 33 simulations, −60.5 points each); S03 (48 firings in 40 simulations, −47.9 points each); S05 (13 firings in 13 simulations, −39.8 points each) [experiment_shocks]. Upside events fired 87 times across all simulations [experiment_shocks].

The groups that lost most to shocks, per simulation: Fiscal Capacity & Public Finance −3.25; Trade Facilitation & Logistics −2.80; Monetary & Currency Capability −2.48; Economic Leverage & Dependence −2.46 [experiment_shock_damage_by_group].

The edges that carried most change through the graph, per simulation: Semiconductors & Advanced Computing to Artificial Intelligence (+1.70 points); Semiconductors & Advanced Computing to Economic Leverage & Dependence (+0.61 points); Economic Output & Productivity to Fiscal Capacity & Public Finance (+0.23 points) [experiment_propagation_by_edge].

Where it ended

At 2056 the median rank is 73 (5th to 95th percentile 62 to 113), the median count of Tier 1 domains 0 (0 to 0) and the median tier rank 66; the resilient score, the mean score sum over simulations, is 514 [experiment_objectives].

Why

Without shocks the index ends +2.033 higher on average, so the shocks cost about 2.033 index points [experiment_probe_attribution].

Holding instead of following this method changes the index by −1.678: that is the method's worth against doing nothing [experiment_probe_attribution].

Removing any single one of the five largest actions changes the index by between −0.018 and −0.013, for example 2039 partner Fiscal Capacity & Public Finance (8 credits) [experiment_probe_attribution]. The largest actions by credits come late, when income is highest, and are rarely the most valuable.

Removing the largest shock of a simulation raises the index by +0.839 on average [experiment_probe_attribution].

The replay probe reproduces the simulations exactly (index change 0.000000), so the attributions are clean [experiment_probe_attribution].

Surprises

tier_jump (warn): largest gain in one domain within five years: 5 tiers (100 simulations above 2).

retired_words (warn): e3-ken-greedy-marginal-30y/report.md: 'simulations' 1 time(s), first near line 39; use 'simulations'.

The simulation furthest from the median (seed 33) ends −5.35 from it, with 9 shocks and 0 upside events [experiment_outlier_simulations].

Comparison

This is the baseline (hold) experiment, or there is none for this nation in the batch.

No backcast comparison: this experiment does not start from a historical position [experiment_against_history].

What each decision and shock was worth

Counterfactual probes on the first 20 seeds: the same simulations with one thing changed, paired seed by seed. A removed decision or shock is taken out and the other decisions replayed unchanged, so the difference is that item's worth.

ProbeIndexScore sumTier 1For example
Hold instead of the method−1.678−121.70.00
No shocks+2.033+145.90.00
Replay of the recorded actions (must change nothing)0.0000.00.00
Without the 1st largest decision−0.018−1.30.002039 partner Fiscal Capacity & Public Finance (8 credits)
Without the 2nd largest decision−0.013−0.90.002039 partner Economic Leverage & Dependence (8 credits)
Without the 3rd largest decision−0.013−1.00.002039 buy Economic Output & Productivity (8 credits)
Without the 4th largest decision−0.013−0.90.002039 partner Trade Policy & Market Access (8 credits)
Without the 5th largest decision−0.014−1.10.002038 buy Semiconductors & Advanced Computing (8 credits)
Without the 1st largest shock+0.839+59.50.002049 S03 (-63.4 points)
Without the 2nd largest shock+0.760+53.70.002039 S03 (-63.0 points)
Without the 3rd largest shock+0.685+48.10.002038 S03 (-41.5 points)

Simulations

Three simulations told round by round, each on its own page: the one nearest the median index at the horizon, and those nearest the 10th and the 90th percentile. Every one of the 100 is listed with its outcome on the simulations page.

All 100 simulations

Events

How often each shock and upside event began across the simulations. Shocks come from the ten downside scenarios and upside events from the ten upside ones, at their yearly likelihood.

Event
Kind
Simulations
Mean round
Points
AI labour shock S08Shock49 per cent17.5−28.7
Regional war spillover S03Shock40 per cent15.4−47.9
Global funding seizure S02Shock37 per cent15.4−27.3
Trade bloc rupture S01Shock34 per cent14.7−17.4
Breadbasket failure S06Shock33 per cent14.3−60.5
Hybrid coercion S04Shock24 per cent13.5−13.5
Water-efficient food leap S16Upside20 per cent17.0+12.3
Market access opening S12Upside19 per cent12.5+9.3
Legitimacy rupture S05Shock13 per cent14.5−39.8
Core disaster S07Shock13 per cent12.5−34.6
Clean power threshold S15Upside13 per cent17.0+9.8
Chronic disease advance S19Upside10 per cent16.6+3.6
Cryptographic trust break S09Shock10 per cent12.0−32.9
Severe pandemic S10Shock6 per cent18.8−29.3
Automated discovery step S17Upside6 per cent18.2+4.2
Public service leap S18Upside5 per cent20.4+14.5
Middle East settlement S14Upside3 per cent11.0+9.7
Debt service reset S11Upside2 per cent21.0+5.6
Great-power détente S13Upside2 per cent21.5+3.6
Outbreak defence succeeds S20Upside2 per cent12.5+7.0

Groups across simulations

Every capability group: its position, and its median and spread at the horizon across the simulations, with what the method spent on it.

73 of 73 groups

Capability group
Domain
2026
2056
Change
Levels invested
Credits
Semiconductors & Advanced ComputingCritical Technology1.007.75 6.01 to 8.57+6.757.6780
Connectivity, Cyber & Trust TechnologiesCritical Technology4.0010.31 8.63 to 11.15+6.317.3059
Artificial IntelligenceCritical Technology5.3310.98 9.31 to 11.92+5.654.9742
Technical & Vocational SkillsHuman Capital7.0012.17 10.70 to 12.96+5.175.5448
Development Cooperation & Global AssistanceInformation & Influence4.509.10 7.12 to 10.17+4.605.7350
Sensing, Timing & NavigationCritical Technology1.605.83 3.44 to 7.08+4.234.8242
Advanced Materials & ManufacturingCritical Technology2.436.61 4.65 to 7.80+4.185.0946
Technology Adoption & DiffusionProduction & Innovation7.5011.51 9.87 to 12.50+4.015.0644
Alliances & Security CooperationInformation & Influence9.0012.88 11.11 to 13.94+3.885.0840
Lifelong Learning & ReskillingHuman Capital7.0010.61 8.86 to 12.06+3.614.1836
Space TechnologiesCritical Technology1.334.59 0.58 to 6.01+3.263.6543
Trade Policy & Market AccessTrade & Investment9.7513.00 11.18 to 14.04+3.254.8339
Digital & AI CompetenceHuman Capital7.5010.47 8.72 to 11.33+2.973.4634
Export Capability & SophisticationTrade & Investment6.339.14 7.35 to 10.34+2.814.7043
Energy TechnologiesCritical Technology3.606.21 3.50 to 7.32+2.613.5532
Robotics & Autonomous SystemsCritical Technology3.255.84 3.62 to 7.22+2.593.1028
Investment Attraction & ProjectionTrade & Investment7.679.64 7.66 to 10.89+1.973.8737
Economic Output & ProductivityProduction & Innovation7.509.22 7.29 to 10.45+1.723.2444
Research Talent & Knowledge CreationHuman Capital7.338.90 6.80 to 9.89+1.571.8925
Economic Leverage & DependenceTrade & Investment6.678.15 5.62 to 9.49+1.482.8725
Advanced EducationHuman Capital7.678.41 6.17 to 9.35+0.741.2617
Fiscal Capacity & Public FinanceFinancial Strength8.759.22 7.23 to 10.47+0.473.1454
Biotechnology & Health TechnologiesCritical Technology5.205.58 3.48 to 6.80+0.381.0610
Global Value Chain PositionTrade & Investment8.678.86 6.72 to 10.00+0.191.6716
Nuclear DeterrenceNational Security0.000.01 0.00 to 0.05+0.010.000
Advanced ManufacturingStrategic Infrastructure7.006.80 4.88 to 8.16−0.200.000
Cyber & Electromagnetic OperationsNational Security4.674.27 3.06 to 5.31−0.400.000
Space OperationsNational Security2.331.77 0.14 to 2.88−0.560.000
Foundational EducationHuman Capital8.758.10 6.84 to 8.85−0.650.000
Sovereign Capital & External Financial PowerFinancial Strength6.005.34 3.03 to 6.46−0.660.505
Intelligence & AssessmentNational Security6.836.15 4.91 to 7.16−0.680.000
Population HealthHuman Capital7.006.32 4.17 to 7.10−0.680.000
Space, Aerospace & Defence InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure4.673.96 2.09 to 4.99−0.710.000
Health System CapabilityHuman Capital8.337.62 6.40 to 8.51−0.710.000
Early Childhood DevelopmentHuman Capital8.507.78 5.53 to 8.56−0.720.000
Transparency, Oversight & AccountabilityGovernance & Integrity9.678.94 7.86 to 9.73−0.730.000
Trade Facilitation & LogisticsTrade & Investment9.508.77 6.41 to 9.96−0.731.7816
Regulatory Governance & Strategic ControlsGovernance & Integrity8.007.23 6.04 to 8.13−0.770.000
Air PowerNational Security4.753.95 2.64 to 4.95−0.800.000
Public Integrity & Anti-CorruptionGovernance & Integrity8.007.20 6.17 to 8.05−0.800.000
Justice System & Fundamental RightsGovernance & Integrity9.008.19 7.17 to 9.05−0.810.000
Quantum TechnologiesCritical Technology1.250.43 0.00 to 1.29−0.820.000
Innovation & CommercialisationProduction & Innovation6.505.63 3.74 to 6.91−0.870.000
Communications & Digital InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure10.299.41 7.91 to 10.39−0.880.000
Strategic Strike & Missile DefenceNational Security2.331.43 0.06 to 2.72−0.900.000
Political Institutions & Civic ParticipationGovernance & Integrity11.0010.09 9.04 to 11.03−0.910.000
Force Generation & MobilisationNational Security8.007.07 5.69 to 8.07−0.930.000
Internal Security & OrderGovernance & Integrity7.676.73 5.19 to 7.69−0.940.000
Land PowerNational Security7.256.30 5.04 to 7.35−0.950.000
Social InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure8.097.11 5.42 to 8.29−0.980.000
Culture, Language & Education DiplomacyInformation & Influence7.606.62 4.97 to 7.59−0.980.000
Water, Sanitation & Waste InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure7.006.02 3.41 to 7.11−0.980.000
Diaspora & Global CommunitiesInformation & Influence9.508.51 7.00 to 9.40−0.990.000
Diplomatic Statecraft & Global NetworksInformation & Influence11.009.99 7.34 to 11.41−1.010.000
Agriculture & Food InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure8.257.21 4.51 to 8.31−1.040.000
National Resilience & Crisis ManagementGovernance & Integrity8.006.95 5.43 to 8.02−1.050.000
Transport InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure9.258.11 5.78 to 9.51−1.140.000
Resource InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure6.004.85 2.87 to 6.23−1.150.000
Joint Command, Projection & SustainmentNational Security6.335.18 3.31 to 6.34−1.150.000
Structural Transformation & ComplexityProduction & Innovation8.006.82 5.06 to 8.02−1.180.000
Financial InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure11.009.75 7.95 to 11.01−1.250.000
Government Effectiveness & Public AdministrationGovernance & Integrity9.808.52 6.60 to 10.04−1.280.000
Maritime PowerNational Security3.502.21 0.37 to 3.50−1.290.000
Business Dynamism & EntrepreneurshipProduction & Innovation9.007.63 5.75 to 8.87−1.370.000
Energy InfrastructureStrategic Infrastructure7.255.87 2.65 to 7.57−1.380.000
Information Environment & Strategic CommunicationInformation & Influence7.676.25 4.64 to 7.70−1.420.061
Labour & EmploymentProduction & Innovation6.755.26 2.82 to 6.93−1.490.000
Industrial & Sectoral BaseProduction & Innovation7.756.22 3.84 to 7.70−1.530.000
Digital & Services TradeTrade & Investment9.507.90 5.53 to 9.51−1.600.131
Financial Regulation & IntegrityFinancial Strength9.257.56 5.51 to 9.09−1.690.000
Financial Stability & Crisis ManagementFinancial Strength8.006.26 3.88 to 7.81−1.740.000
Financial System Depth & AccessFinancial Strength9.407.64 5.43 to 9.32−1.760.000
Monetary & Currency CapabilityFinancial Strength10.007.93 4.73 to 9.86−2.070.000

Checks

The automated checks run on this experiment before anything was written about it. A warning is a candidate finding for the improvement loop.

  • passcredits_conservedlargest gap between credits in and credits accounted for: 5.7e-14
  • passscores_in_boundsscores range 0.000 to 14.827
  • passno_nans0 missing values in the trajectory and objectives
  • passprobe_replay_reproducesthe recorded moves played back reproduce the simulation to within 0.0e+00 points (20 simulations)
  • passledger_balancesthe edge ledger sums to the propagated change to within 1.0e-06 points
  • passmove_without_shocklargest one-year move in a group with no shock landing: 1.24 points; 0% of simulations have one above 3
  • warntier_jumplargest gain in one domain within five years: 5 tiers (100 simulations above 2)
  • passall_tier1_from_outside_top10starting rank 79; 0 simulations reach Tier 1 in all nine domains
  • passsaturation_high0% of simulations end with a group at 20 that did not start there (median 0 groups)
  • passsaturation_low25% of simulations end with a group at 0 that did not start there (median 0 groups)
  • passspend_concentrationmedian concentration of spending across groups (HHI) 0.047; most funded group hard.critical_technology.semiconductors_and_advanced_computing
  • passsame_actionthe most repeated move (group and mode) appears in a median 40% of rounds

Settings and versions

Experiment cycle-001.e3-ken-greedy-marginal-30y. Every simulation records the model, graph and parameter versions, the scenario, the method and its seed, so it can be reproduced exactly.

Nation
Kenya (KEN)
Position
The 2026 ratings of the National Capability Index
Method
Greedy. Each round, the actions with the most value per credit: a level's own worth plus its long-run effect downstream through the graph, less the maintenance it will need, counting only what arrives before the horizon.
Scenario
The shock and upside library, drawn at random each round
Objective
Capability index, the primary objective the experiment is judged on; every other objective is reported beside it
Horizon
30 rounds, 2026 to 2056
Simulations
100 seeds, 1 to 100. Every method in the batch faces the same draws for the same seed.
Graph elasticities
Drawn for each simulation, uniformly within each edge’s bracket
Income
Base credits 143 a round, moving with the economic groups
Versions
Model 0.1.0, Capability Dependency Graph 0.2.0, parameters 0.1.0
Batch
Improvement cycle (cycle-001), cycle 1 of the improvement loop
Runtime
8.9 seconds in all; 967 microseconds a round
Not a forecast
Every figure is a distribution over the simulations of a structural model, reported to compare methods and test the model. None is a prediction of what a nation will do or become.
Structural parameters
Costs, decay, vulnerability and credits are structural seed values with low or medium confidence, set by domain with single-group exceptions. Five groups have no defensible value in a single-nation model and are flagged in the parameter tables.
Other nations are frozen
One nation is simulated at a time. Every other nation stays at its 2026 rating, so rank and tiers are measured against a still field; where the simulated nation rises past others their own tiers are not re-sorted.
Starting depth and mode are defaults
The position is the National Capability Index ratings. How institutionalised each capability is, and how much was built, bought or partnered, have no data behind them yet and start from structural defaults.
Credits are calibrated, not measured
Each nation’s income is set so that its position is affordable with headroom that rises with its fiscal capacity. It is not yet fiscal capacity as a share of GDP.