1.8) Summary

What is ABM?

• A bottom-up simulation method; where the interaction of many components generates patterns on a higher system level

Potential

• ABM might fill the gap between formal but restrictive models and wide-ranging but imprecise qualitative frameworks
• Allows development and testing of theories (of individual behaviours) leading to emergent phenomena (system behaviour)

Challenges

• Many studies show the potential of the method, but examples of ABM applied on a solid empirical base going beyond proof-of-concept and directly addressing a “real world problem” are rare
• Achieving the right level of complexity for the question addressed is not only a challenge with ABM, but the methods vast options makes it prone for overly complex models
• Addressing “real world problems” with an appropriate level of complexity can lead to computational intense simulation runs to produce robust results