Simulating Society

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.

"Simulating Society" builds upon the sucess of Gaylord's two previous works involved with the simulating and modeling with Mathematica -- and cellular automata, in partcular. 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.

1: Modeling a Society of Mobile Heterogeneous Individuals.- 2: Transmitting Culture.- 3: Deciding Whether to Interact.- 4: Choosing How to Behave.- 5: Grouping and Conforming.- 6: Social Networking and Moving to Far-Flung Locations.- Appendix B: List and Matrix Essentials.- Appendix C: Graphics and Efficiency.