-={Economics Thesis}=-This was the project for my Economics Senior Research Workshop (ECON700) class at Middlebury. Title: Reciprocity, Emulation and the Spread of Small Scale and Large Scale Collective Action: An Agent Based Model Abstract: In Mancur Olson's 1965 classic, he said collective action can work for small groups but large groups are bound for failure due to individuals' self-interested motives. Here, I develop an agent based model using boundedly rational agents whose behavior is driven by social norms. It is observed that when a reciprocity norm in which some agents sanction free riders is established, small groups can successcully coordinate collective action. Also, this cooperative behavior can spread throughout a population of small groups from neighbor to neighbor if there is a mechanism for inter-group emulation. With the same set social norms, it is also seen that large scale collective action can emerge and spread throughout the population. Downloads
powered by NetLogo WHAT IS IT?Models the formation of small scale and large scale collective action through enforcement of social norms. The social norms in this model are reciprocity (punishment of free-riders) and emulation (learning from individuals who are doing better than oneself). HOW IT WORKS The setup consists of a population of small groups. Each of the small groups consists of agents arranged in a circle. For each round of the simulation, the agents in each of the small groups play a n-player public goods game with other members in the group. Each agent is given an endowment of 2 points for each round. It can either contribute this endowment to a public pool, or keep it for itself. HOW TO USE IT Press setup, and then go. To restart the model, press setup again. You can switch the initial population of the agents in each groups by changing the 's_pop', 'r_pop', 'c_pop', etc (make sure they add up to 10 though). You can disable each agent type by switching the 'allow_type' things off. All the rest of the sliders on the left change the model settings
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