From Meso Decisions to Macro Results

Abstract

Policy diffusion needs to be studied as a complex phenomenon, since it involves interdependent relationships between autonomous and heterogeneous countries. This chapter aims at developing a simple computational model based on a theoretical model of policy diffusion (Braun & Gilardi, 2006) that helps to explain the emergence of diffusion in a complex system. Based on three simple conditions (ready, choose, change) and a few internal and external characteristics that define countries and their interactions, the model presented in this chapter shows that policies do diffuse and lead to local convergence and global divergence. Moreover, it takes time for a country to introduce the best-suited policy and for this policy to become very effective. To conclude, diffusion is a complex phenomenon and its outcomes, as ensued from the author's model, are in line with the theoretical expectations and the empirical evidence.