Opinion dynamics of random-walking agents on a lattice

The opinion dynamics of random-walking agents on finite two-dimensional lattices is studied. In the model, the opinion is continuous, and both the lattice and the opinion can be either periodic or nonperiodic. At each time step, all agents move randomly on the lattice, and update their opinions based on those of neighbors with whom the differences of opinion are not greater than a given threshold. Due to the effect of repeated averaging, opinions first converge locally, and eventually reach steady states. As in other models with bounded confidence, steady states in general are those with one or more opinion groups in which all agents have the same opinion. When both the lattice and the opinion are periodic, however, metastable states can emerge, in which the whole spectrum of location-dependent opinions can coexist. This result shows that, when a set of continuous opinions forms a structure like a circle, unlike the typically used linear opinions, rich dynamic behavior can arise. When there are geographical restrictions in real situations, a complete consensus is rarely reached, and metastable states here might be one of the explanations for these situations, especially when opinions are not linear.Kongju National UniversityPhysic

Effects of long-range links on metastable states in a dynamic interaction network

We introduce a model for random-walking nodes on a periodic lattice, where the dynamic interaction network is defined from local interactions and E randomly-added long-range links. With periodic states for nodes and an interaction rule of repeated averaging, we numerically find two types of metastable states at low- and high-E limits, respectively, along with consensus states. If we apply this model to opinion dynamics, metastable states can be interpreted as sustainable diversities in our societies, and our result then implies that, while diversities decrease and eventually disappear with more long-range connections, another type of states of diversities can appear when networks are almost fully-connected.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Country Report The Netherlands 2010 : IEA Bioenergy Task 42

Rapport van het International Energy Agency (IEA) over de productie van bio-energie, het gebruik van biomassa en de toepassing van bioraffinage in Nederland

The Threat of Terrorism: The Perspective of a Policy-Maker

This note defines and analyzes the most important issues concerning decisionmaking about human-induced insecurities such as terrorism and organized crime from the perspective of a policymaker. By means of modeling the policymakers trade-o_ between the e_ectiveness and costs of policy measures targeted at reducing the threat of terrorism, we aim at helping to understand the role economic research can take to enable e_cient decisionmaking in the context of human-induced insecurities in general and terrorism in particular.