Although I agree with the overall tenor of Nick's "Contra Epstein" piece (
http://jasss.soc.surrey.ac.uk/12/1/9.html), there's one glaring error: Schelling's segregation model is completely misrepresented. The notion that segregation
decreases as the individuals' desire to be segregated increases is wrong. Nick - have a play with the Netlogo model! As you increase the "%-similar-wanted" slider, the end-point of the "percent-similar" plot get closer to 100%. It does NOT suddenly start dropping. The interesting point that the model illuminates is that you need surprisingly low values of "%-similar-wanted" to generate high "percent similar" environments.
Robert
P.S. There's some other parts of the paper I'd argue with, viz:
- Hempels' symmetry of explanation and prediction has been dead and buried for years so really can't be used to support any argument;
- hypothesizing micro-rules in models is actually a perfectly reasonable thing to do;
- the burden-of-proof should rest with the modeler, not with anyone who dares to disagree with her.
...but having already demolished 40% of Nick's paper, I thought I'd better give it a rest :-) Nick - buy me a coffee and I'll give you details!
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