System Dynamics Implementation of a Model of Population and Resource Dynamics with Adaptation

Authors

Takuro Uehara, Portland State UniversityFollow
Yoko Nagase, Oxford Brookes UniversityFollow
Wayne Wakeland, Portland State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

6-2012

Subjects

Population ecology, Sustainability, Endogenous growth (Economics)

Abstract

We build and analyze a dynamic ecological economic model that incorporates endogenous innovation on input substitutability. The use of the system dynamics method allows us to depart from conventional equilibrium thinking and conduct an out-of-equilibrium (adaptation) analysis. Simulation results show that while improvement in input substitutability will expand an economy, this change alone may not improve sustainability measured by indicators such as utility-per-capita and natural resource stock. It could, however, be possible that in combination with other technological progress, improvement in input substitutability will contribute to sustainable development. Sensitivity analysis also indicates a possible complication with the use of exogenous consumer preference, which is often assumed in standard economics.

Description

Presented at the The 12th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Ecological Economics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/17704

Citation Details

Uehara, Takuro, Yoko Nagase, and Wayne Wakeland. “System dynamics implementation of a model of population and resource dynamics with adaptation”, Proc.12th Biennial Conf. Int’l Soc. for Ecological Economics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June, 2012.