Repeated discrete choices in geographical agent based models with an application to fisheries

Most geographical agent-based models simulate agents through custom-made decision-making algorithms. This makes it difficult to assess which results are general and which are contingent on the algorithm's details. We present a set of general algorithms, applicable in any agent-based model for c...

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Main Authors: Carrella, E, Bailey, R, Madsen, J
Format: Journal article
Published: Elsevier 2018
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author Carrella, E
Bailey, R
Madsen, J
author_facet Carrella, E
Bailey, R
Madsen, J
author_sort Carrella, E
collection OXFORD
description Most geographical agent-based models simulate agents through custom-made decision-making algorithms. This makes it difficult to assess which results are general and which are contingent on the algorithm's details. We present a set of general algorithms, applicable in any agent-based model for choosing repeatedly from a set of alternatives. We showcase each in the same fishery agent-based model and rank their performance under various scenarios. While complicated algorithms tend to perform better, too much sophistication lowers performance. Further, while some algorithms perform well under all scenarios, others are optimal only in specific circumstances. It is therefore impossible to produce a single, unequivocal performance ranking even for simple general algorithms. We advocate then a heuristic zoo approach where multiple algorithms are implemented in the same model; this allows us to identify its best algorithm and test sensitivity to misspecifications of the decision-making component.
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spelling oxford-uuid:a966d070-5e68-483f-8156-13604309a14a2022-03-27T03:08:23ZRepeated discrete choices in geographical agent based models with an application to fisheriesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:a966d070-5e68-483f-8156-13604309a14aSymplectic Elements at OxfordElsevier2018Carrella, EBailey, RMadsen, JMost geographical agent-based models simulate agents through custom-made decision-making algorithms. This makes it difficult to assess which results are general and which are contingent on the algorithm's details. We present a set of general algorithms, applicable in any agent-based model for choosing repeatedly from a set of alternatives. We showcase each in the same fishery agent-based model and rank their performance under various scenarios. While complicated algorithms tend to perform better, too much sophistication lowers performance. Further, while some algorithms perform well under all scenarios, others are optimal only in specific circumstances. It is therefore impossible to produce a single, unequivocal performance ranking even for simple general algorithms. We advocate then a heuristic zoo approach where multiple algorithms are implemented in the same model; this allows us to identify its best algorithm and test sensitivity to misspecifications of the decision-making component.
spellingShingle Carrella, E
Bailey, R
Madsen, J
Repeated discrete choices in geographical agent based models with an application to fisheries
title Repeated discrete choices in geographical agent based models with an application to fisheries
title_full Repeated discrete choices in geographical agent based models with an application to fisheries
title_fullStr Repeated discrete choices in geographical agent based models with an application to fisheries
title_full_unstemmed Repeated discrete choices in geographical agent based models with an application to fisheries
title_short Repeated discrete choices in geographical agent based models with an application to fisheries
title_sort repeated discrete choices in geographical agent based models with an application to fisheries
work_keys_str_mv AT carrellae repeateddiscretechoicesingeographicalagentbasedmodelswithanapplicationtofisheries
AT baileyr repeateddiscretechoicesingeographicalagentbasedmodelswithanapplicationtofisheries
AT madsenj repeateddiscretechoicesingeographicalagentbasedmodelswithanapplicationtofisheries