Model of opinion forming and voting

Barbara Pabjan and Andrzej Pękalski

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2008, vol. 387, issue 24, 6183-6189

Abstract: A simple model describing the dynamics of opinion forming in a two-party society is presented. Using a Monte Carlo simulation, we show what is the role played by the mobility of the electorate and the size of the groups within which opinions are exchanged. Each individual is characterized by its opinion and its susceptibility to the influence of others. We show what is the effect for a party to have a small percentage of supporters who will never change their mind. We determine when a party having at the beginning a smaller number of supporters, could nevertheless win democratic elections. The influence of an external random field (media) is also discussed.

Keywords: Monte Carlo simulations; Voting; Social modeling; Opinion forming (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:387:y:2008:i:24:p:6183-6189

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2008.07.003

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