Spectral gap properties for linear random walks and Pareto's asymptotics for affine stochastic recursions

Let $V=\mathbb R^d$ be the Euclidean $d$-dimensional space, $\mu$ (resp $\lambda$) a probability measure on the linear (resp affine) group $G=G L (V)$ (resp H= \Aff (V)) and assume that $\mu$ is the projection of $\lambda$ on $G$. We study asymptotic properties of the iterated convolutions $\mu^n *\delta\_{v}$ (resp $\lambda^n*\delta\_{v})$ if $v\in V$, i.e asymptotics of the random walk on $V$ defined by $\mu$ (resp $\lambda$), if the subsemigroup $T\subset G$ (resp.\ $\Sigma \subset H$) generated by the support of $\mu$ (resp $\lambda$) is "large". We show spectral gap properties for the convolution operator defined by $\mu$ on spaces of homogeneous functions of degree $s\geq 0$ on $V$, which satisfy H{\"o}lder type conditions. As a consequence of our analysis we get precise asymptotics for the potential kernel $\Sigma\_{0}^{\infty} \mu^k * \delta\_{v}$, which imply its asymptotic homogeneity. Under natural conditions the $H$-space $V$ is a $\lambda$-boundary; then we use the above results and radial Fourier Analysis on $V\setminus \{0\}$ to show that the unique $\lambda$-stationary measure $\rho$ on $V$ is "homogeneous at infinity" with respect to dilations $v\rightarrow t v$ (for t\textgreater{}0), with a tail measure depending essentially of $\mu$ and $\Sigma$. Our proofs are based on the simplicity of the dominant Lyapunov exponent for certain products of Markov-dependent random matrices, on the use of renewal theorems for "tame" Markov walks, and on the dynamical properties of a conditional $\lambda$-boundary dual to $V$

Using Social Simulation to Explore the Dynamics at Stake in Participatory Research

This position paper contributes to the debate on perspectives for simulating the social processes of science through the specific angle of participatory research. This new way of producing science is still in its infancy and needs some step back and analysis, to understand what is taking place on the boundaries between academic, policy and lay worlds. We argue that social simulation of this practice of cooperation can help in understanding further this new way of doing science, building on existing experience in simulation of knowledge flows as well as pragmatic approaches in social sciences.Participatory Research, Institutional Analysis and Design, Knowledge Flow, Agent Based Simulation