4 `Black-Box' Models

4.1 The Extended `El Farol Bar' Model

This model is based upon Brian Arthur's `El Farol Bar' model [2], but extended in several respects, principally by introducing learning and communication. There is a fixed population of agents (in this case 10). Each week each agent has to decide whether or not to go to the bar. Generally, it is advantageous for an agent to go unless it is too crowded, which it is if 67% or more of all the agents go (in this case 7 or more). It is in each agent's interest to go to the bar when most of the others do not go and stay at home when they do. Each agent benefits from guessing what (most of) the others will do and then doing the opposite. Since all the agents are trying to out-guess the others, a sort of modelling `arms-race' develops.

Each week, before making their decision, agents have a chance to communicate with each other. They indicate to each other whether they will go or not, but they do not have to tell the truth. The messages they send can be a simple `yes' or `no' or a more complicated expression.

4.1.1 - The environment
4.1.2 - The agents
4.1.3 - Communication
4.1.4 - Results, analysis and discussion

On Modelling in Memetics - Bruce Edmonds - 18 AUG 98

[Next] [Previous] [Up] [Top] [Contents]

Generated with CERN WebMaker