Systematization of a set of closure techniques

Kjell Hausken and John F. Moxnes

Theoretical Population Biology, 2011, vol. 80, issue 3, 175-184

Abstract: Approximations in population dynamics are gaining popularity since stochastic models in large populations are time consuming even on a computer. Stochastic modeling causes an infinite set of ordinary differential equations for the moments. Closure models are useful since they recast this infinite set into a finite set of ordinary differential equations. This paper systematizes a set of closure approximations. We develop a system, which we call a power p closure of n moments, where 0≤p≤n. Keeling’s (2000a,b) approximation with third order moments is shown to be an instantiation of this system which we call a power 3 closure of 3 moments. We present an epidemiological example and evaluate the system for third and fourth moments compared with Monte Carlo simulations.

Keywords: Approximations; Closure; Higher order moments; Differential equations; Epidemiology; Stochastic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:thpobi:v:80:y:2011:i:3:p:175-184

DOI: 10.1016/j.tpb.2011.07.001

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