A Simple Model of Coevolution for Macroscopic and Microscopic Levels
Résumé
In Thomas Schelling's famous segregation model, it is shown that the link between the individual characteristics of agents (micro) and the global states of the system (macro) is not trivial. We recently studied this model using statistical physics tools [1], showing for the first time that an analytical link between these two levels, characteristics of agents (utility function) and global structures of segregation, can be established. This work aims to build a similar conceptual model, but includes an important sociological ingredient: the evolution of individual characteristics. Economic models have often been subject to criticism (by sociologists, mainly) about their arbitrary and static set of individual characteristics. Of course, one could object: any simulation in which, by construction, agents always follow programmatically predetermined rules cannot be of great interest for a sociology concerned about the real world. However, we believe it may be worthwhile to build a model of a virtual society, and to accept its simplicity, to help us better consider the evolving characteristics of the agents, and to understand better the interplay between micro and macro levels.
[1] Grauwin, Sébastian, et al. (2009) “Competition between collective and individual dynamics.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences vol. 106, n. 49, pp. 2062220626.
Domaines
Système multi-agents [cs.MA]Origine | Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s) |
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