Session 2 - Agent-based social simulation reading group

For session 2 of the Agent-based Social Simulation Reading Group, the below papers will be discussed.

Title:
The Best of Both Worlds: Formal Analysis of ABM Dynamics

Abstract:
For some amongst us, true insight from a model is of the kind you get from a pencil-and-paper formal analysis - and precisely this seems out of reach for ABMs. We are accustomed to thinking that simulating the model, just stepping it through as it were, is the only way to get a grip on its dynamic behaviour. However, there are some formal methods available to the ABM modeller. We will be discussing in particular analysis via Markov chains, an approach put forward by Young in the 1990s and developed into a practical method, overcoming some of the hurdles of the typically enormous state spaces of ABMs, by Izquierdo et al. in 2006. Can we really get the best of both worlds with ABMs?

References:

Izquierdo, L.R., Izquierdo, S.S., Galán, J.M., Santos, J.I., 2009. Techniques to understand computer simulations: Markov chain analysis. Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation 12, 6. https://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/12/1/6.html

Young, H.P., 2006. Chapter 22 Social Dynamics: Theory and Applications, in: Tesfatsion, L., Judd, K.L. (Eds.), Handbook of Computational Economics. Elsevier, pp. 1081–1108. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1574-0021(05)02022-8

A reminder:

As part of this series, we will also have a ‘live’ model running each session to interact with. This will give all participants opportunity to have a more hands-on experience in the sessions as well as look at platforms and coding standards over time.

This in person session will be held on Level 5, Room 5206, Steve Howard Room, Melbourne Connect.

We look forward to seeing you there!