Modelling social-ecological systems: The Commons (ÜWP) - Detailseite

Modelling Social-Ecological Systems is the construction and analysis of logic mathematical models of coupled social-ecological processes, including both purely social science hypotheses/assumptions and combined biophysical models. Models can be analogous, analytic or simulation-based and are used to understand complex ecological processes and predict how real social-ecological systems might change.

The aim of this module is to gain hands-on knowledge on concepts and methods of spatial modelling of the social-ecological system. Methodically, this course focuses on programming with the integrated multi-agent modelling suite NetLogo, that integrates agent-based models with spatial modelling concepts such as cellular automata. NetLogo is freely available, is inspired by the Logo programming language, and is used frequently in the scientific community for the modelling of complex phenomena.

Thematically, the course is on common pool resources and collective action, thereby touching upon important debates in sustainability research: In his famous article “The tragedy of the commons”, Garret Hardin (1968) put forward his theory of the social dilemma of such shared resource systems and claimed that the aim of profit maximization of each resource user would eventually lead to an overuse and collapse. In Hardin’s view, privatization or government regulation are the best means of protecting these finite CPRs from depletion. In contrast, Elinor Ostrom emphasizes the potentials of local and collective governance structures for a sustainable use of CPRs in her publication in 1990. In particular, she underlined the great opportunities of complex and interlaced local governmental systems, where citizens can participate and cooperate directly instead of privatizing commons or managing them in a centralized manner by the state. While taking this topic as hands-on example, we discuss the potentials and limits of agent-based modelling to shed light on this highly controversial debate.

The course comprises introductory sessions on the thematic key topic and on NetLogo, i.e. the tool itself, as well as on concepts and methods from (object-oriented) programming that support building agent-based models. A large share of the course is practical hands-on work on the implementation of an agent-based model of choice, that is to be presented and discussed conceptually during the course and practically in the last session. A report is to be written for examination.

The course is aimed at students interested in human-environmental systems and urban landscape ecology that seek to widen their methodical background. No prior knowledge on NetLogo is required.

Axelrod, R., 1997. The Complexity of Cooperation: Agent-Based Models of Competition and Collaboration. Princeton University Press, Princeton.

Ghorbani, A. & Bravo, G., 2016. Managing the commons: a simple model of the emergence of institutions through collective action. International Journal of the Commons. 10(1), 200–219.

Hardin, G., 1968. The Tragedy of the Commons. Science. 162(3859), 1243–1248.

Ostrom, E., 1990. Governing the Commons. The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action. Political Economy of Institutions and Decisions. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Schindler, J., 2012. A Simple Agent-Based Model of the Tragedy of the Commons. Proceesings of the 26th European Conference on Modelling and Simulation. ECMS 2012, 44 – 50.

Final report (Hausarbeit). A large share of the course is practical programming work on the implementation of an agent-based model of choice, that is to be presented and discussed conceptually during the course, and practically in the last session. A report is to be written for examination.