Critical Issues in Evaluating Socio-Economic Models

This paper considers the major issues involved in judging a model’s worth. The emphasis is on developing ways to judge the validity of model structure in terms of model purpose. Topics addressed include the dimensions of simplification, types of purpose, diagnosis and explanation, types of validity, types of structure, alternative modelling methodologies, a framework for evaluation, choice of system boundaries and simplification, and modelling objectives. The paper concludes with a few observations on the role and purposes of models in the study of socio-economic problems.

[1]  R. Bellman,et al.  Linear Programming and Economic Analysis. , 1960 .

[2]  Philip M. Morse,et al.  Methods of Operations Research , 1952 .

[3]  R. G. D. Allen,et al.  Macro-Economic Theory , 1967 .

[4]  John G. Kemeny,et al.  Finite Markov Chains. , 1960 .

[5]  Lucio Bianco,et al.  A method for determining the optimal districting in urban emergency services , 1977, Comput. Oper. Res..

[6]  Martin Greenberger,et al.  Microanalysis of Socioeconomic Systems: A Simulation Study , 1962 .

[7]  Bernard P. Zeigler,et al.  Concepts for advanced simulation methodologies , 1979 .

[8]  Marvin Kornbluh,et al.  The nature of a computer simulation model , 1976 .

[9]  Franklin M. Fisher,et al.  The identification problem in econometrics , 1967 .

[10]  Kan Chen,et al.  On the choice and linkage of large scale forecasting models , 1976 .

[11]  Y.Y. Haimes,et al.  Methodology for large-scale systems , 1978, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[12]  Bernard P. Zeigler,et al.  Theory of Modelling and Simulation , 1979, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics.

[13]  J. Henize.  Toward a better understanding of social systems , 1975, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[14]  Bernard P. Zeigler.  STRUCTURING THE ORGANIZATION OF PARTIAL MODELS , 1978 .

[15]  Tuncer Ören,et al.  Concepts and criteria to assess acceptability of simulation studies: a frame of reference , 1981, CACM.

[16]  Saul I. Gass,et al.  Evaluation of complex models , 1977, Comput. Oper. Res..

[17]  W. Leontief,et al.  The Structure of American Economy, 1919-1939. , 1954 .