Application of Agent-Based Models for Policy Analysis

Content introduction：

Agent-based models are a group of computational models, which have been developed in the western academia in recent years. An agent-based model can be used to simulate individual actions or interactions between individuals. Researchers can explore the micro foundations of macro phenomena by adopting this simulation method.

This method is based on several influential social theories in the twentieth century, such as game theory, system theory, and evolutionary theory. Different from traditional mathematical models, agent-based models have the certain properties, including probability, emergence, and wholeness, which make them more resemble human social reality. After a brief overview of several agent-based models, we will discuss the role of this new method as an enhanced policy analysis tool.