Revising the Human Development Sequence Theory Using an Agent-Based Approach and Data

Viktoria Spaiser () and David J. T. Sumpter ()
Additional contact information
Viktoria Spaiser: http://www.viktoriaspaiser.com
David J. T. Sumpter: http://www2.math.uu.se/~david/David_Sumpter/Home.html

Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, 2016, vol. 19, issue 3, 1

Abstract: Agent-based models and computer simulations are promising tools for studying emergent macro-phenomena. We apply an agent-based approach in combination with data analysis to investigate the human development sequence (HDS) theory developed by Ronald Inglehart and Christian Welzel. Although the HDS theory is supported by correlational evidence, the sequence of economic growth, democracy and emancipation stated by the theory is not entirely consistent with data. We use an agent-based model to make quantitative predictions about several different micro-level mechanisms. Comparison to data allows us to identify important inconsistencies between HDS and the data, and propose revised agent-based models that modify the theory. Our results indicate the importance of elites and economic inequality in explaining the data available on democratisation.

Keywords: Agent-Based Simulation; Human Development Sequence Theory; Democratisation; Mathematical Modeling; Data Analysis; Inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-06-30
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.jasss.org/19/3/1/1.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jas:jasssj:2015-95-3

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation from Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Francesco Renzini ().