Presenting Complexity to Social Scientists: An Economics Example

Corey Lofdahl
Science Applications International Corporation

The social sciences provide a rich repository for open, interesting, and unsolved questions that can benefit from the application of complex systems research techniques. After “solving” a problem though, researchers must present their results, which is not as straightforward as it might at first appear. This study describes lessons learned presenting complex systems results to an economics audience during the publication of Lofdahl (2002a). The study is organized by four lessons: 1) size your model appropriately, 2) build the intuition of your reader, 3) do your homework, and 4) choose your audience wisely. The study concludes with six open economics questions awaiting the attention of complexity researchers.  

Created by Mathematica  (April 20, 2004)