Course content

Agent-based modelling in the interface between economics and behavioral psychology is an intensive PhD course offered through the project "COMPutational economics and optimization - Agents, Machines and Artificial intelligence" (COMPAMA). COMPAMA is developing an emerging interdisciplinary area in the borderland between economics, optimization, psychology, machine learning and AI with the main purpose to understand the economic impact of decisions, made by both machines and human agents.

This course will give an overview of agent-based modelling (ABM). It will start exploring the need for this type of models, its complexity and predictability. The course will address social networks and socio ecological systems, including a discussion about modelling human behavior. The connection with behavior economics will be presented. Finally, the challenges in using ABM and the ethics of using artificial populations will be highlighted.

Learning outcome

After having completed the course the candidate should be able to:

• have a basic understanding of the principles of complex systems and their unpredictability;
• understand the principles of self-organisation, emergence and downward causation in the context of agent-based modelling (ABM).
• identify different domains in which ABM of social systems can be applied;
• elaborate on the basic social scientific and psychological mechanisms that are important in social dynamics, and how to implement them in ABM;
• recognize the challenges of ABM regarding validation and ethics.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures. Participation in the seminars is expected, which includes attendance at all lectures, as well as contributions to the discussions. There will be compulsory activities in the course.

Compulsory assignments

• Mandatory

Recommended previous knowledge

The course is designed for students enrolled in a PhD programme.

Required previous knowledge

Admission to a PhD programme within the fields of psychology, social sciences, operations research, economics, or similar.

Course materials

Selected literature. Will be given at course start-up.