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Agent-based models have played a prominent role in recent debates about the merits of democracy. In particular, the formal model of Lu Hong and Scott Page and the associated "diversity trumps ability" result has typically been seen to support the epistemic virtues of democracy over epistocracy (i.e., governance by experts). In this paper we first identify the modeling choices embodied in the original formal model and then critique the application of the Hong-Page results to philosophical debates on the relative merits of democracy. In particular we argue that the "best-performing agents" in the Hong-Page model should not be interpreted as experts. We next explore a closely related model in which best-performing agents are more plausibly seen as experts and show that the diversity trumps ability result fails to hold. However, with changes in other parameters (such as the deliberation dynamic) the diversity trumps ability result is restored. The sensitivity of this result to parameter choices illustrates the complexity of the link between formal modeling and more general philosophical claims; we use this debate as a platform for a more general discussion of when and how agent-based models can contribute to philosophical discussions.

Methods like Event History Analysis can show the existence of diffusion and part of its nature, but do not study the process itself. Nowadays, thanks to the increasing performance of computers, processes can be studied using computational modeling. This thesis presents an agent-based model of policy diffusion mainly inspired from the model developed by Braun and Gilardi (2006). I first start by developing a theoretical framework of policy diffusion that presents the main internal drivers of policy diffusion - such as the preference for the policy, the effectiveness of the policy, the institutional constraints, and the ideology - and its main mechanisms, namely learning, competition, emulation, and coercion. Therefore diffusion, expressed by these interdependencies, is a complex process that needs to be studied with computational agent-based modeling. In a second step, computational agent-based modeling is defined along with its most significant concepts: complexity and emergence. Using computational agent-based modeling implies the development of an algorithm and its programming. When this latter has been developed, we let the different agents interact. Consequently, a phenomenon of diffusion, derived from learning, emerges, meaning that the choice made by an agent is conditional to that made by its neighbors. As a result, learning follows an inverted S-curve, which leads to partial convergence - global divergence and local convergence - that triggers the emergence of political clusters; i.e. the creation of regions with the same policy. Furthermore, the average effectiveness in this computational world tends to follow a J-shaped curve, meaning that not only time is needed for a policy to deploy its effects, but that it also takes time for a country to find the best-suited policy. To conclude, diffusion is an emergent phenomenon from complex interactions and its outcomes as ensued from my model are in line with the theoretical expectations and the empirical evidence.Les méthodes d'analyse de biographie (event ...

Most of the intriguing social phenomena of our time, such as international terrorism, social inequality, and urban ethnic segregation, are consequences of complex forms of agent interaction that are difficult to observe methodically and experimentally. This book looks at a new research stream that makes use of advanced computer simulation modelling techniques to spotlight agent interaction that allows us to explain the emergence of social patterns. It presents a method to pursue analytical sociology investigations that look at relevant social mechanisms in various empirical situations, such as markets, urban cities, and organisations

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to provide an overview of agent-based modeling as an alternative method for public administration research. It is focused on encouraging public administration scholars to come to better understanding of the method.Design/methodology/approachThis article performed a comprehensive review of methodological issues relative to agent-based modeling.FindingsAfter reviewing the current research themes in public administration and the methodological nature of agent-based modeling, we found that agent-based modeling can help researchers to advance theories by means of sophisticated thought experiment which is not possible by formal modeling and verbal reasoning. We also pointed out that agent-based modeling does not substitute empirical research, but can add much value through being part of a mixed-method and multidisciplinary research.Practical implicationsWe suggested that interested researchers may need to take a strategic approach in developing and describing a pertinent model and reporting its results.Originality/valueAgent-based modeling has rarely been used in public administration research. The article provides an introductory overview for researchers not familiar with ABM and suggests to the academic community future venues that would unfold from agent-based modeling.

Subject of the present study is the agent-based computer simulation of Agent Island. Agent Island is a macroeconomic model, which belongs to the field of monetary theory. Agent-based modeling is an innovative tool that made much progress in other scientific fields like medicine or logistics. In economics this tool is quite new, and in monetary theory to this date virtual no agent-based simulation model has been developed. It is therefore the topic of this study to close this gap to some extend. Hence, the model integrates in a straightforward way next to the common private sectors (i.e. households, consumer goods firms and capital goods firms) and as an innovation a banking system, a central bank and a monetary circuit. Thereby, the central bank controls the business cycle via an interest rate policy; the according mechanism builds on the seminal idea of Knut Wicksell (natural rate of interest vs. money rate of interest). In addition, the model contains also many Keynesian features and a flow-of-funds accounting system in the tradition of Wolfgang Stützel. Importantly, one objective of the study is the validation of Agent Island, which means that the individual agents (i.e. their rules, variables and parameters) are adjusted in such a way that on the aggregate level certain phenomena emerge. The crucial aspect of the modeling and the validation is therefore the relation between the micro and macro level: Every phenomenon on the aggregate level (e.g. some stylized facts of the business cycle, the monetary transmission mechanism, the Phillips curve relationship, the Keynesian paradox of thrift or the course of the business cycle) emerges out of individual actions and interactions of the many thousand agents on Agent Island. In contrast to models comprising a representative agent, we do not apply a modeling on the aggregate level; and in contrast to orthodox GE models, true interaction between heterogeneous agents takes place (e.g. by face-to-face-trading). ; Gegenstand der vorliegenden makroökonomischen Untersuchung ist Agent Island. Agent Island ist eine agentenbasierte Computersimulation, welche im Gebiet der Geldtheorie anzusiedeln ist. Agentenbasierte Computersimulationen sind innovative Werkzeuge, die bereits in vielen anderen Forschungsfeldern, wie der Medizinforschung oder der Erforschung komplexer Logistiksysteme, Verwendung finden. Im Fach Volkswirtschaftslehre ist der Einsatz dieser Technik allerdings noch recht neu, und im Gebiet der monetären Makroökonomik ist bis heute praktisch noch kein agentenbasiertes Simulationsmodell entwickelt worden. Diese Lücke soll durch die vorliegende Arbeit zumindest ein Stück weit geschlossen werden. Angestrebt wird deshalb die Ausarbeitung eines validierten Simulationsmodells für geldpolitische Anwendungen. Zu diesem Zweck wird als Innovation in einem agentenbasierten Makro-Modell – neben den Sektoren der privaten Haushalte, der Konsum- und Kapitalgüterunternehmen – ein Bankensystem, die Notenbank und ein Geldkreislauf (auf einfache Weise) integriert. Die Notenbank kontrolliert dabei die Konjunktur durch Zinspolitik; der entsprechende Transmissionsmechanismus knüpft an die Arbeiten Knut Wicksells im Bereich der Geldtheorie an. Darüber hinaus beinhaltet das Modell viele Keynesianische Elemente sowie eine Geldvermögensrechnung in der Tradition von Wolfgang Stützel. Im Rahmen der Validierung spielt insbesondere der Zusammenhang zwischen Mikro- und Makroebene eine besondere Rolle, wobei wir einen Bottom-Up-Ansatz wählen. Die Idee der Validierung, wie wir sie anwenden, besteht demnach darin, die individuellen Regeln der Agenten so einzustellen, dass auf der aggregierten Ebene Ergebnisse entstehen, die für ein monetäres Makro-Modell sinnvoll erscheinen. Im Ergebnis des validierten Modells sind alle Phänomene auf der aggregierten Ebene (z. B. einige stilisierte Fakten, die Wirkung des Transmissionsmechanismus, der Phillips-Kurven-Zusammenhang, das Spar-Paradoxon oder der Konjunkturverlauf von Agent Island) alleine durch die Handlungen und Interaktionen der vielen tausend Agenten auf der Mikroebene erzeugt. Es erfolgt – im Gegensatz zu Modellen mit einem repräsentativen Agenten – keine Modellierung auf der aggregierten Ebene. Im Rahmen der Mikrostruktur von Agent Island gilt es, die drei vorkommenden Typen von Agenten, d.h. die private Haushalte, Unternehmen sowie die Notenbank, mit einem geeigneten Regelwerk auszustatten. Dementsprechend ist die Arbeit so aufgebaut, dass im ersten Kapitel der methodischen Rahmen für die Entwicklung des Modells (d.h. der Regeln) sowie für die Validierung des Modells (d.h. die Einstellung der Regeln) dargestellt wird. Außerdem erfolgt eine Ausarbeitung der Vorteile des agentenbasierten Ansatzes gegenüber den Allgemeinen Gleichgewichts-Modellen. Im darauffolgenden zweiten Kapitel erfolgt die Darstellung des Modells, welche die Beschreibung aller Regeln und Variablen umfasst. Da es bis heute keine vergleichbare Arbeit auf dem Gebiet der Geldtheorie gibt, musste sich das Modell von Agent Island an verwandte, bereits existierende agentenbasierte Modelle orientieren, sowie in vielen Bereichen an nicht-agentenbasierten Ansätze. Im zweiten Kapitel erfolgt ebenfalls die Verknüpfung des Modells mit der relevanten Literatur. Es liegt in der Natur der Sache, dass die Darstellung von Agent Island zunächst auf der Mikroebene erfolgt. Somit befasst sich der größte Teil von Kapitel 2 mit der Ausarbeitung der Regeln auf der Mikroebene. Erst am Ende des Kapitels wechselt die Darstellung auf die Makroebene – und legt hierbei auch die Grundlagen für den späteren Validierungsprozess. Dort werden makroökonomische Zusammenhänge erläutert, die für Agent Island relevant sein sollten und die im darauffolgenden dritten Kapitel dann auch untersucht bzw. angewandt werden. In Kapitel 3 erfolgt die Validierung des Modells. Hier erfolgen Sensitivitäts-Analysen, Kalibrierungen sowie weitere (z.T. statistische) Untersuchungen des Modells bzw. der Modellergebnisse. Ziel ist es dabei, sinnvolle Ergebnisse auf der Makroebene für verschiedene Zeitreihen zu generieren. Am Ende von Kapitel 3 liegt ein vernünftig validiertes Modell vor. Dies könnte beispielsweise als Ausgangsbasis für die Fortentwicklung eines weiter verfeinerten Modells dienen.

The primary goal of this book is to present the research findings and conclusions of physicists, economists, mathematicians and financial engineers working in the field of "Econophysics" who have undertaken agent-based modelling, comparison with empirical studies and related investigations. Most standard economic models assume the existence of the representative agent, who is "perfectly rational" and applies the utility maximization principle when taking action. One reason for this is the desire to keep models mathematically tractable: no tools are available to economists for solving non-linear models of heterogeneous adaptive agents without explicit optimization. In contrast, multi-agent models, which originated from statistical physics considerations, allow us to go beyond the prototype theories of traditional economics involving the representative agent. This book is based on the Econophys-Kolkata VII Workshop, at which many such modelling efforts were presented. In the book, leading researchers in their fields report on their latest work, consider recent developments and review the contemporary literature

Party competition for votes in free and fair elections involves complex interactions by multiple actors in political landscapes that are continuously evolving, yet classical theoretical approaches to the subject leave many important questions unanswered. Here Michael Laver and Ernest Sergenti offer the first comprehensive treatment of party competition using the computational techniques of agent-based modeling. This exciting new technology enables researchers to model competition between several different political parties for the support of voters with widely varying preferences on many different issues.

The primary goal of this book is to present the research findings and conclusions of physicists, economists, mathematicians and financial engineers working in the field of "Econophysics" who have undertaken agent-based modelling, comparison with empirical studies and related investigations. Most standard economic models assume the existence of the representative agent, who is "perfectly rational" and applies the utility maximization principle when taking action. One reason for this is the desire to keep models mathematically tractable: no tools are available to economists for solving non-linear models of heterogeneous adaptive agents without explicit optimization. In contrast, multi-agent models, which originated from statistical physics considerations, allow us to go beyond the prototype theories of traditional economics involving the representative agent. This book is based on the Econophys-Kolkata VII Workshop, at which many such modelling efforts were presented. In the book, leading researchers in their fields report on their latest work, consider recent developments and review the contemporary literature

Agent-based models have played a prominent role in recent debates about the merits of democracy. In particular, the formal model of Lu Hong and Scott Page and the associated "diversity trumps ability" result has typically been seen to support the epistemic virtues of democracy over epistocracy (i.e., governance by experts). In this paper we first identify the modeling choices embodied in the original formal model and then critique the application of the Hong-Page results to philosophical debates on the relative merits of democracy. In particular we argue that the "best-performing agents" in the Hong-Page model should not be interpreted as experts. We next explore a closely related model in which best-performing agents are more plausibly seen as experts and show that the diversity trumps ability result fails to hold. However, with changes in other parameters (such as the deliberation dynamic) the diversity trumps ability result is restored. The sensitivity of this result to parameter choices illustrates the complexity of the link between formal modeling and more general philosophical claims; we use this debate as a platform for a more general discussion of when and how agent-based models can contribute to philosophical discussions.