An Integrated Approach to Simulating Behavioural Processes: a Case Study of the Lock-in of Consumption Patterns

Marco A. Janssen () and Wander Jager ()
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Marco A. Janssen: https://marcojanssen.info/
Wander Jager: http://www.rug.nl/w.jager

Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, 1999, vol. 2, issue 2, 2

Abstract: Lock-in denotes a phenomenon of monopolistic dominating technologies or consumer goods in a certain market. These lock-ins cannot be explained by superior characteristics of the good or technology. Previous studies mainly used probabilistic models to study lock-in effects. In this paper an integrated conceptual model of consumer behaviour is used to identify relevant processes of lock-in dynamics of consumption patterns. An agent-based model is developed to simulate consumats, artificial consumers, who are confronted with two similar products. We found two types of lock-in, namely, a spatial lock-in and a global level lock-in. The spatial lock-in related to the spatial patterns that occur in consumption patterns and relates to the satisfaction of the need for identity. The global lock-in relates to price effects and occurs only if individual preferences are not significantly weighted in the cognitive processing.

Keywords: Lock-In; Multi-Agent Modelling; Social Psychology; Need Satisfaction; Consumer Behaviour (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1999-04-14
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jas:jasssj:1999-9-1

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