Sociodynamics: A Systematic Approach to Mathematical Modelling in the Social Sciences - Hardcover

Weidlich, Wolfgang

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 905823049X ISBN 13: 9789058230492

Publisher: CRC Press, 2000

Synopsis

Sociodynamics develops a systematic approach to initiating and evaluating mathematical models for a broad class of collective dynamic social processes in different sectors of society. It combines appropriate mathematical methods with concepts from social science, presenting a comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of the field. The book characterizes the hierarchies of complex structures in nature and society. Then universally applicable methods originating in statistical physics, non-linear dynamics, and synergetics are combined with concepts of social science. The applications to sociology include a model for collective political opinion formation and a model describing the interaction, rise and decline of social groups, as well as a study of migratory patterns in populations.

About this title

Synopsis

The intention of sociodynamics is to develop a systematic approach to initiating and evaluating mathematical models for a broad class of collective dynamic social processes in different sectors of society. To achieve this, appropriate mathematical methods are combined with concepts from social science. The book provides a comprehensive coverage of the area and is presented in three sections. In the first part of the book the hierarchies of complex structures in nature and society and their methods of description are characterised and compared. Then universally applicable methods originating in statistical physics, non-linear dynamics, and synergetics are combined with concepts of social science to construct sociodynamics, a general strategy for designing mathematical models for the quantitative description of a wide range of collective dynamical phenomena within society. The second section contains applications of sociodynamics to different sectors of the society wherever dynamic phenomena occur. The applications to sociology comprise a model for collective political opinion formation and a model describing the interaction, rise and decline of social groups.

Applications to population dynamics focus on the modelling of the migration of interacting populations. The existence of migratory phase transitions is demonstrated. Economic non-equilibrium phenomena can also be described by sociodynamic methods. This is demonstrated in models of quality-competition of firms and demand dynamics. An application of sociodynamics to problems of regional science follows in a model of urban evolution under population pressure. In the final part of the book the central equation of sociodynamics is derived and the general properties of its solutions are treated. The evolution equations for quasi-mean values and variance are then derived from this equation.

Edition details

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 905823049X
• ISBN 13: 9789058230492
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 392