Introducing simple models of social systems

Abstract

Learning to model social systems can foster critical thinking about the applications of mathematical methods to social issues and also lead to professional opportunities. I introduce an intriguing simple model proposed by Thomas Schelling to understand urban segregation. It shows that even when individual agents seek mixed neighborhoods, they can collectively create a segregated city that makes everyone unhappy. The model can be presented as a simple role-playing game or by a computer program. At a more advanced level, the methods of statistical physics provide a way to calculate equilibrium states corresponding to segregated configurations. I also discuss why physics inspired models have difficulties in understanding the complex dynamics of real social systems.