Modelling societal transitions with agent transformation

Authored by Noam Bergman, Michel Schilperoord, Jan Rotmans

Date Published: 2008-12

DOI: 10.1007/s10588-008-9036-0

Sponsors: No sponsors listed

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Transition models explain long-term and large-scale processes fundamentally changing the structure of a societal system. Our concern is that most transition models are too static. Although they capture a move of focus from static equilibria to transitions between dynamic equilibria, they are still rooted in an “equilibriumist” approach. Improvement is possible with agent-based models that give attention to endogenous system processes called “transformation processes”. These models can render far more dynamic pictures of societal systems in transition, and are no longer remote from descriptions in the emerging transition literature.

Tags

Agent-based modelling Societal transitions integrated sustainability assessment