About The Conch Paradox

The Book

The Conch Paradox: Rethinking Resilience emerged from the intersection of personal crisis and professional insight. When our unborn son was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, the decision to save his life required surrendering control of it entirely. This forced confrontation with vulnerability revealed what years of academic research had been pointing toward: our greatest strengths often contain the seeds of our greatest vulnerabilities.

The book weaves together three narratives: a family's medical crisis in Rotterdam, economic research on small island vulnerabilities, and the natural history of the queen conch—whose perfect shell, evolved over millions of years, now threatens the species' survival as environments change.

The question isn't whether to build protective shells. The question is: what shells have you built, and when the world changes, will they protect you—or trap you?

The Author

Rendell de Kort is a development economist and PhD researcher studying economic resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), with specialized focus on the Dutch Caribbean.

Professional Background:

• Principal at Capstone Research Group (Cornerstone Economics and LovelyData)
• World Bank Consultant specializing in Disaster Risk Financing
• University of Aruba position (food security research)
• PhD Candidate, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Rendell's work applies Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) and Dynamic Capabilities Theory (DCT) frameworks to understand efficiency-resilience paradoxes in small island economies. His research bridges academic rigor with practical policy applications, informing disaster risk financing strategies and sustainable development initiatives across the Caribbean.

Born and raised in Aruba, Rendell brings both professional expertise and lived experience to understanding how small, vulnerable systems navigate existential threats while maintaining their essential character.

Contact: rendell@c-economics.com