scholarly journals The dynamics of cooperation, power, and inequality in a group-structured society

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Tverskoi ◽  
Athmanathan Senthilnathan ◽  
Sergey Gavrilets
Keyword(s):  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Collective Actions ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Political Inequality ◽  
Equilibrium Dynamics ◽  
Analytical Approximations ◽  
Group Cooperation ◽  
Stable Equilibria ◽  
Large Groups ◽  
Multiple Stable Equilibria

AbstractMost human societies are characterized by the presence of different identity groups which cooperate but also compete for resources and power. To deepen our understanding of the underlying social dynamics, we model a society subdivided into groups with constant sizes and dynamically changing powers. Both individuals within groups and groups themselves participate in collective actions. The groups are also engaged in political contests over power which determines how jointly produced resources are divided. Using analytical approximations and agent-based simulations, we show that the model exhibits rich behavior characterized by multiple stable equilibria and, under some conditions, non-equilibrium dynamics. We demonstrate that societies in which individuals act independently are more stable than those in which actions of individuals are completely synchronized. We show that mechanisms preventing politically powerful groups from bending the rules of competition in their favor play a key role in promoting between-group cooperation and reducing inequality between groups. We also show that small groups can be more successful in competition than large groups if the jointly-produced goods are rivalrous and the potential benefit of cooperation is relatively small. Otherwise large groups dominate. Overall our model contributes towards a better understanding of the causes of variation between societies in terms of the economic and political inequality within them.

scholarly journals The dynamics of cooperation, power, and inequality in a group-structured society

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Tverskoi ◽  
Athmanathan Senthilnathan ◽  
Sergey Gavrilets
Keyword(s):  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Democratic Institutions ◽  
Collective Actions ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Equilibrium Dynamics ◽  
Analytical Approximations ◽  
Group Cooperation ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Stable Equilibria ◽  
Large Groups

Most human societies are characterized by the presence of groups which cooperate through joint actions but also compete for resources and power. The processes of within- and between- group cooperation and competition have shaped human history over the last several millennia. To deepen our understanding of the underlying social dynamics, we model a society subdivided into groups with constant sizes and dynamically changing powers. Both individuals within groups and groups themselves participate in collective actions. The groups are also engaged in political contests over power which determines how resources are distributed. Using analytical approximations and agent-based simulations, we show that the model exhibits rich behavior characterized by multiple stable equilibria and, under some conditions, non-equilibrium dynamics. The strength of democratic institutions plays a key role: increasing it promotes cooperation, reduces variation in power, and mitigates inequality among groups. We show that increasing potential benefits of between-group cooperation promotes it only in societies with strong democratic institutions. We show that small groups are successful in competition if the jointly-produced goods are rivalrous and the potential benefit of cooperation is small. Otherwise large groups dominate. Overall our model contributes towards a better understanding of the causes of variation between societies in terms of the economic and political inequality within them.

Philosophical Papers

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Probability Theory ◽  
Computer Simulations ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Scientific Explanation ◽  
Contemporary Literature ◽  
Unpublished Paper ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Philosophical Investigations ◽  
The Status ◽  
Original Presentation

Paul Humphreys pioneered philosophical investigations into the methodological revolution begun by computer simulations. He has also made important contributions to the contemporary literature on emergence by developing the fusion account of diachronic emergence and its generalization, transformational emergence. He is the discoverer of what has come to be called “Humphreys” Paradox in probability theory and has also made influential contributions to the literature on probabilistic causality and scientific explanation. This collection contains fourteen of his previously published papers on topics ranging from numerical experiments to the status of scientific metaphysics. There is also and a previously unpublished paper on social dynamics. The volume is divided into four parts on, respectively, computational science, emergence, probability, and general philosophy of science. The first part contains the seminal 1990 paper on computer simulations, with three other papers arguing that these new methods cannot be accounted for by traditional methodological approaches. The second part contains the original presentation of fusion emergence and three companion papers arguing for diachronic approaches to the topic, rather than the then dominant synchronic accounts. The third part starts with the paper that introduced the probabilistic paradox followed by a later evaluation of attempts to solve it. A third paper argues, contra Quine, that probability theory is a purely mathematical theory. The final part includes papers on causation, explanation, metaphysics, and an agent-based model that shows how endogenous uncertainty undermines utility maximization. Each of the four parts is followed by a comprehensive postscript with retrospective assessments.

scholarly journals Design and Optimal Control of a Multistable, Cooperative Microactuator

Actuators ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Michael Olbrich ◽  
Arwed Schütz ◽  
Tamara Bechtold ◽  
Christoph Ament
Keyword(s):  
Deflection Angle ◽  
Initial State ◽  
New Concepts ◽  
Vertical Displacements ◽  
State Uncertainty ◽  
Stable Equilibria ◽  
Freely Moving ◽  
Time And Energy ◽  
Multiple Stable Equilibria ◽  
Optimal Trajectory Planning

In order to satisfy the demand for the high functionality of future microdevices, research on new concepts for multistable microactuators with enlarged working ranges becomes increasingly important. A challenge for the design of such actuators lies in overcoming the mechanical connections of the moved object, which limit its deflection angle or traveling distance. Although numerous approaches have already been proposed to solve this issue, only a few have considered multiple asymptotically stable resting positions. In order to fill this gap, we present a microactuator that allows large vertical displacements of a freely moving permanent magnet on a millimeter-scale. Multiple stable equilibria are generated at predefined positions by superimposing permanent magnetic fields, thus removing the need for constant energy input. In order to achieve fast object movements with low solenoid currents, we apply a combination of piezoelectric and electromagnetic actuation, which work as cooperative manipulators. Optimal trajectory planning and flatness-based control ensure time- and energy-efficient motion while being able to compensate for disturbances. We demonstrate the advantage of the proposed actuator in terms of its expandability and show the effectiveness of the controller with regard to the initial state uncertainty.

Dynamic Response of Dielectric Elastomers

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Mockensturm ◽  
Nakhiah Goulbourne
Keyword(s):  
Large Deformations ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Material Behavior ◽  
Dielectric Elastomers ◽  
Large Strains ◽  
Inertial Effects ◽  
Stable Equilibria ◽  
Electrostatic Pressure ◽  
Linear Material ◽  
Multiple Stable Equilibria

Dielectric elastomers have received a great deal of attention recently for effectively transforming electrical energy to mechanical work. Their large strains and conformability make them enticing materials for many new types of actuators. Unfortunately, their non-linear material behavior and large deformations make actual devices difficult to model. However, the reason for this difficulty can also be used to design actuators that utilize these material and geometric non-linearities to obtain multiple stable equilibria. In this work, we investigate one of the simplest possible configurations, a spherical membrane, using a model that incorporates both mechanical and electrostatic pressure as well as inertial effects that become important when transitioning from one equilibrium to another.

Using Quantum Agent-Based Simulation to Model Social Networks

2011 ◽  
pp. 42-54
Author(s):  
C. Bisconti ◽  
A. Corallo ◽  
M. De Maggio ◽  
F. Grippa ◽  
S. Totaro
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Quantum Mechanics ◽  
Quantum Physics ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Many Body ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Microscopic Interactions ◽  
The Many

This research aims to apply models extracted from the many-body quantum mechanics to describe social dynamics. It is intended to draw macroscopic characteristics of organizational communities starting from the analysis of microscopic interactions with respect to the node model. In this chapter, the authors intend to give an answer to the following question: which models of the quantum physics are suitable to represent the behaviour and the evolution of business processes? The innovative aspects of the project are related to the application of models and methods of the quantum mechanics to social systems. In order to validate the proposed mathematical model, the authors intend to define an open-source platform able to model nodes and interactions within a network, to visualize the macroscopic results through a digital representation of the social networks.

Endogenous Uncertainty and the Dynamics of Constraints

2019 ◽  
pp. 246-260
Author(s):  
Paul Humphreys
Keyword(s):  
Utility Maximization ◽  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Fitness Landscape ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Endogenous Uncertainty ◽  
The Commons ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Special Case

An agent- based model of social dynamics is introduced using a deformable fitness landscape, and it is shown that in certain clearly specifiable situations, strategies that are different from utility maximization outperform utility maximizers. Simulation results are presented and intuitive interpretations of the results provided. The situations considered occur when individuals' actions affect the outcomes for other agents and endogenous effects are dominant. The Tragedy of the Commons is merely a special case of this. Arguments are given that constraints are to be encouraged in some circumstances. The appropriate role of constraints in various types of society is assessed and their use justified in identifiable types of situations.

scholarly journals Intergroup aggression in meerkats

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1917) ◽  
pp. 20191993 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Dyble ◽  
Thomas M. Houslay ◽  
Marta B. Manser ◽  
Tim Clutton-Brock
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Lethal Violence ◽  
Suricata Suricatta ◽  
Group Cooperation ◽  
Fitness Consequences ◽  
Cooperatively Breeding ◽  
Adult Sex Ratio ◽  
Violent Conflicts ◽  
Large Groups

Violent conflicts between groups have been observed among many species of group living mammals and can have important fitness consequences, with individuals being injured or killed and with losing groups surrendering territory. Here, we explore between-group conflict among meerkats ( Suricata suricatta ), a highly social and cooperatively breeding mongoose. We show that interactions between meerkat groups are frequently aggressive and sometimes escalate to fighting and lethal violence and that these interactions have consequences for group territories, with losing groups moving to sleeping burrows closer to the centre of their territories following an intergroup interaction and with winning groups moving further away. We find that larger groups and groups with pups are significantly more likely to win contests, but that the location of the contest, adult sex ratio, and mean within-group genetic relatedness do not predict contest outcome. Our results suggest that intergroup competition may be a major selective force among meerkats, reinforcing the success of large groups and increasing the vulnerability of small groups to extinction. The presence of both within-group cooperation and between-group hostility in meerkats make them a valuable point of comparison in attempts to understand the ecological and evolutionary roots of human warfare.

Chaebol and Catastrophe: A New View of the Korean Business Groups and Their Role in the Financial Crisis

2002 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Feenstra ◽  
Gary G. Hamilton ◽  
Eun Mie Lim
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Organization ◽  
Business Groups ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Low Concentration ◽  
Korean Economy ◽  
Vertical Linkages ◽  
Stable Equilibria ◽  
Second Tier ◽  
The Government ◽  
Multiple Stable Equilibria

We present a model of industrial organization that has multiple stable equilibria and argue that the high-concentration equilibrium describes Korea's economy and the low-concentration equilibrium describes Taiwan's economy. Past industrial policy of the state may have put Korea's economy in the high-concentration equilibrium, but discontinuation of the policy did not cause the industrial organization to change because this is an economically viable equilibrium. The high-concentration equilibrium produces a narrower range of final goods than the low-concentration equilibrium, which explains why the 1996 collapse in semiconductor prices caused the less diversified Korean economy to contract more than the more diversified Taiwanese economy. More importantly, this collapse in demand caused Korea's economy to move to a new equilibrium that has a smaller number of business groups, as evidenced by the collapse of the second-tier chaebol and their absorption into the first-tier chaebol. This wave of bankruptcies, combined with the financially precarious state of the merchant banks, created an investor panic that precipitated the crisis, which began with the 17 November 1997 devaluation of the won. This is why economic fundamentals could explain the chaebol bankruptcies before that date and not those after that date. The logic of our model suggests that public policy should focus on reducing the vertical linkages within business groups and not on reducing their horizontal linkages as the current “Big Deal” program of the government is doing.

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