Simulating Society: A Mathematica®Toolkit for Modeling Socioeconomic Behavior (Science) - Softcover

Gaylord, Richard J.; D'Andria, Louis J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0387985328 ISBN 13: 9780387985329

Publisher: Springer, 1998

Synopsis

In "Simulating Scoiety", the authors explore the basis for social and economic behavior. Using the methodology of computer simulation, specifically cellular automata, they model various factors that are involved in a system of individuals (or agents) who interact socially and economically with one another. The usefulness of computer simulations in the social sciences is that it provides a laboratory in which qualitative ideas about social and economic interations can be tested. This brings a new dimension to the social sciences where 'explanations' abound, but are rarely subject to much experimental testing. Mathematica is used as the programming language for implementing these models as cellular automata simulations. The authors have chosen this language because it has a number of features which make it uniquely qualified to be used by social scientists, especially those without expertise in computer programming. Users can easily access the various 3.0 Mathematica notebooks, and readily interact with them, the full text of the printed book, itself, and other data contained on www.telospub.com.

About this title

Synopsis

This work builds upon the success of Gaylord's two previous works involved with the simulating and modeling with Mathematica - and cellular automata, in particular. While those works were devised specifically for physical and natural scientists, this volume is designed especially for working economists and social scientists involved with the computer simulations of phenomena in the socioeconomic arena.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0387985328
• ISBN 13: 9780387985329
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 241