Conflict between groups of players in coupled socio-economic and ecological dynamics

Model Description

This is a model for the coupled dynamics of conflict between two different user groups regarding their socioeconomic choice (between cooperative and non-cooperative collective action) and nutrient loading input level into a lake water system. Suzuki and Iwasa (2009),gives the following overview of the model. "Conflict among multiple groups is a major source of difficulty in environmental conservation. People are often divided into various groups that have different social factors, sometimes  leading to  differences in the degree to  which they cooperate  in environmental conservation. This obstructs the social consensus needed to solve the environmental problems. Here we study the coupled dynamics of human socio-economic choice and  lake water  pollution, and examine the magnitude  of  the  difference in cooperation levels between two groups. In the model, many players choose between a costly but cooperative option and a selfish option. The former results in  a reduced phosphorus discharge into the lake. Each player's choice is affected by an economic cost and social pressure. Social pressure is a psychological factor that promotes cooperation: it becomes stronger when more players in the society are cooperative (conformist tendency) and when the problem at hand is a greater concern to society. In the model, two groups sometimes show large differences in their cooperation levels even when both have exactly the same social factors. However, cooperation levels are more likely to differ between groups that have different social factors. Enhancement of the cross-group conformist tendency is the most effective way to minimize differences in cooperation levels and to mitigate conflict between groups".

Reference

Suzuki, Y., & Iwasa, Y. (2009). Conflict between groups of players in coupled socio-economic and ecological dynamics. Ecological Economics, 68(4), 1106-1115. Elsevier B.V. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.07.024

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