The International Futures (IFs) Modeling Project

Abstract

Since 1980, the International Futures (IFs) project has produced three generations of the world model with that name. The IFs model facilitates analysis of global demographic, economic, energy, agricultural, environmental, and sociopolitical systems into or through the 21st century. The most recent release within the third generation provides detail on more than 200 variables across as many as 20 different countries and regions. IFs has increasingly evolved from a global model to a global modeling system that allows analysis of data and analytical relationships across 162 countries. The system runs under Microsoft Windows with a menu-driven structure for simplified scenario analysis. IFs is widely available for educational use and policy analysis. The primary focal points of analysis with IFs are (a) elements of the possible transition toward sustainability in the 21st century, and (b) aspects of sociopolitical change within countries and in the global system.