Thirty years of sociodynamics.An integrated strategy of modelling in the social sciences: applications to migration and urban evolution

Abstract

Abstract Sociodynamics aims at providing a frame of theoretical concepts for designing mathematical models for a broad class of dynamical phenomena within human society. The methods developed so far integrate on the one side the theory of probabilistic systems (master equation) and of nonlinear dynamics, and on the other side overarching concepts (such as dynamic utilities) from the social sciences. The central concepts, i.e. the variables of state, the transition rates and the equations of evolution of the socioconfiguration in probabilistic and quasi-deterministic version are exhibited. Models for the migration of culturally interacting populations and for the evolution of a city and its population are presented as examples of application. The full account of methods and further models of sociodynamics can be found in a recent book [Weidlich W. Sociodynamics—A systematic approach to mathematical modelling in the social sciences. Taylor & Francis; 2002. ISBN 90-5823-049-X] or in a review article [Weidlich W. Physics and social science—the approach of synergetics. Phys Rep 1991;204:1–163].