Modeling

This course is organized around the following thematic question: Is mathematical modeling useful in studying complex social systems? This question naturally branches itself out into many auxiliary sub-questions. For instance, what do we mean precisely by a mathematical model? What exactly is a complex social system? These are all daunting questions, each worthy of independent interest and further specialization. Guided by this thematic question, we organize the semester into a sequence of modules structured in a manner that aims to explore answers gradually. Our exploration will be guided by literature reviews, class discussions, and computational experimentation (this page will be updated throughout the term)

Module 1: Modeling opinions and beliefs

• In-class notes social dynamics of influence

• Computational experiments (codes by Vignon Oussa)

• Netlogo codes by Paul Smaldino

Module 2: Modeling cooperation

• Lecture notes
• Mathematica experiments for Prisoner dilemma (codes by Vignon Oussa)
• How to write pseudo-codes

Module 3: Modeling coordination

• Lecture notes
• Mathematica experiments (codes by Vignon Oussa)

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(Fall 2021) Module 1: Complex social systems and modeling

Credit and sources

• Martin Hilbert
• YouTube channel: Tools for Science
• Ted Pavlic
• Netlogo model
• Lecture notes

Video lectures for class discussions

• Social evolution (5 mins)
• Long waves of social evolution (first 15 mins)
• How society evolve?  (15 mins)
• Computational social science (5 mins)
• Modeling as a tool for science (6 mins)
• Why do we need computer simulations? (9 mins)
• Introduction to modeling social dynamics(agent-based models) (first 30 mins)

Presentation (by instructor)

• Agent-based modeling

Assigned videos (homework)

• Agent-based modeling with NetLogo (47 mins)

Computational experimentations

• Description of the model (see Page 7) at the following link

Class discussions

• Notes summarizing our class discussions

(Fall 2021)Module 2: Economy

• UNSDG goals: 8,12  

1. Presentation Part 1
2. Mathematical codes for a simple economy (by Dr. Oussa)
3. What is economics? 

2. Basic aspects of economic models 

3. A simple economy model 

4. Understanding NetLogo Code  

5. Setup for simple economy 

6. Transaction in the simple economy 

7. Reporters 

8. Graphs 

9. Analysis 

• Netlogo model

(Fall 2021) Module 3: Segregation

• UNSDG goals: 8,12  
• Jim Crow of the north
• Articles for reading assignments
  • The Schelling Model of Ethnic Residential Dynamics: Beyond the Integrated – Segregated Dichotomy of Patterns https://www.jasss.org/15/1/6.html
  • Understanding the social context of the Schelling segregation model https://www.pnas.org/content/105/11/4109