Modelling Evolving Rules for the Use of Common-pool Resources in an Agent-based Model

• Main Author: Alexander Smajgl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Croatian Interdisciplinary Society 2007-10-01
• Series: Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems
• Subjects: multi-agent simulation; agent-based modelling; institutional arrangements; common-pool resources
• Online Access: http://indecs.eu/2007/indecs2007-pp56-80.pdf

Institutional arrangements are key drivers of the use of common-pool resources (CPR). The analysis of existing arrangements requires a framework that allows research to describe a case study systematically and diagnose the institutional setting. Based on a sound understanding of current institutions the question of what effects alternate arrangements would have becomes evident. This step requires a predictive model, which can either be qualitative or, preferably, analyses an empirical case quantitatively. A major conceptual challenge of a quantitative model is the evolution of rules, which define the boundaries for the agents to choose strategies. This paper develops the conceptual foundations for such a modelling approach and an agent-based model for the analysis of institutional arrangements in a CPR setting.