Quality and Quantity

When quantity of knowledge is selected as a variable for measuring efficiency of our cognitive ability, our behaviour might be analysed applying some methods used in economics.

Apparently, trade or division of labour can be interpreted as our behaviour that maximises efficiency of knowledge accumulation which overcome limits inherent in our individual cognitive capacity.

Nonetheless, my interests go to the question what motivation leads individuals to such behaviour that can generate benefits which are unlikely to be enjoyed if all the individuals wish to possess and share exactly identical quality of knowledge.

The interpretation that trade or division of labour is a result of our having sought for the most economical ways of knowledge accumulation seems to be looking at collective quantity of knowledge.
Since useful knowledge must be of quality that satisfies certain needs of us, it might be OK to understand that the more knowledge is accumulated, the more benefits we can enjoy.
However, when an individual decides to work on a certain area of knowledge, thus, to give up other areas, he/she must find any merit in doing so. Hence, when we talk about efficiency of collective knowledge accumulation, it seems critical to me to note that some coordination among individuals must be taking place in the course of collective knowledge accumulation.

I am assuming that our cognitive ability is not designed to conceive computational efficiency so immediately that out behaviour should be led towards collective efficiency.

Although trade or division of labour appears efficient in accumulating knowledge on the surface, that must be containing more complex processes of selection and relinquishment of knowledge as a result of our simpler and more innate perceptions or appreciation of our surroundings.