Schedule

30.03.2004: Introduction

Course logistics including tools and readings. Overview of contents.

06.04.2004: Examples of agent-based models in the social sciences

A survey of agent-based modeling in political science, economics, and sociology.

• Schelling, Thomas C. 1978. Micromotives and Macrobehavior. New York: W. W. Norton. Chaps. 1, 5.

13.04.2004: The principles of agent-based modeling

Conceptual introduction to agent-based modeling. Installation of Java, RePast, and development environment.

• Axelrod, Robert. 1997. “Advancing the Art of Simulation in the Social Sciences.” In Simulating Social Phenomena, ed. Rosaria Conte, Rainer Hegselmann, and Pietro Terna. Berlin: Springer Verlag.

• The Political Methodologist. 2001. Special issue on computational modeling (Number 1, Fall), pp. 12-27.

Also recommended:

• Cederman, Lars-Erik. “Computational Models of Social Forms: Advancing Generative Macro Theory.” Ms. Harvard University.

• Rosser, J. Barkley Jr. 1999. “On the Complexities of Complex Economic Dynamics.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 13: 169-192.

20.04.2004: Java I

Homework A handed out

Overview of the language. Object-orientation. Arrays and constants.

• Eckel Chaps. 1-4; or Schildt Modules 1-5

27.04.2004: Java II

Homework B handed out

More on object-orientation (inheritance; interfaces etc). Collections.

• Eckel Chaps. 6-8, 11; or Schildt Modules 6, 7
  See also Sun Tutorial on collections

04.05.2004: Introduction to RePast and Tutorial I

Homework A due
Term Paper Assignment handed out

History of RePast: Main features. Introduction to the tutorial and the template mechanism. How to create and run a simple RePast model. The control panel.

• Cohen, Riolo, and Axelrod. 1999. “The Emergence of Social Organization in the Prisoner's Dilemma” (SFI Working Paper).

• Nick Collier. 2002. "RePast: An Extensible Framework for Agent Simulation."

• Collier, Nicholson, and Howe, Thomas R. 2003. "RePast 2.0: Major Changes and New Features".

• RePast web page: “How to build a model”, “How to use the GUI”

11.05.2004: RePast Tutorial II

Homework B due
Homework C handed out

Using collections and random numbers in a simple evolutionary model.

• RePast web page: “How to work with random numbers”

18.05.2004: RePast Tutorial III

Project memo due

Graphical user interfaces. Charts.

• RePast web page: “How to create charts”

25.05.2004: RePast Tutorial IV

Homework C due

Graphical displays. Grids. Probes.

• RePast web page: “How to create displays”, "How to use spaces"

01.06.2004: RePast Tutorial V

Batch runs. Parameter files. Output files. Advanced topics: schedules; customization.

• RePast web page: “How to use parameters and parameter files”, “How to collect data”, “How to use a schedule”, “How to create custom actions”, “How to create property descriptors”

08.06.2004: Evolutionary agents

15.06.2004: Emergent-structure models

• Axelrod, Robert. 1997. The Complexity of Cooperation, Chap. 7. First published in the Journal of Conflict Resolution 41 (1997): 203-226.

22.06.2004: Emergent-network models

• Albert, Réka and Alert-László Barabási. 2001. “Statistical Mechanics of Complex Networks.”

• Strogatz, S.H. 2001. “Exploring complex networks.” Nature 410: 268-276.

29.06.2004: Emergent-actor models

• Cederman, Lars-Erik. 2002. “Endogenizing Geopolitical Boundaries with Agent-Based Modeling.” Proceedings of the National Academy 99: 7796-7303. PDF Hollis e-resources.

• Cederman, Lars-Erik. 2003. “Modeling the Size of Wars: From Billiard Balls to Sandpiles.” American Political Science Review.

06.07.2004: Final projects due

Final project report due