Chaos and socio-spatial dynamics (Q1188865)

This book presents a discrete time-space universal map of relative dynamics that characterizes the evolution and spatial distribution of populations based on their comparative temporal and locational advantages. Part I describes the general model and surveys the literature in social- spatial dynamics, especially recent developments in mathematics, the natural sciences, biology, mathematical ecology and the spatial socio- economic sciences. The social-spatial dynamics is viewed through four lenses: namely, absolute vs. relative behavior and continuous vs. discrete dynamics. Part II explores the analytical properties of a one-stock two-region discrete-time relative nonlinear map. In this model, the next-period stock abundance at any location is assumed to be directly proportionate to the current comparative advantage at that location, and to be inversely related to the current comparative advantage at the competing region. In section A, the fixed-point behavior of the discrete map is described. The conditions under which the turbulence phenomenon occurs are also derived by exploring the interdependences among the comparative advantages producing function (F), the bifurcation parameter (A), and the slope (s) and the equilibrium values of the iterative process. In Section B, attention is given to the case where the comparative advantages producing function is log-linear. The behavior of the first iterative is analyzed and illustrated graphically. The intervals of stability of equilibria are derived and the relationships between the equilibria and the bifurcation coefficient (A) are discussed. In section C, the analytical properties of two-period cycles are investigated and the domain of possible existence of two-period cycles is derived. It is shown that the universality of the Feigenbaum sequences is related not to the bifurcation parameter, A, but to the slope, s, of the discrete map. Finally, the domain of nonexistence of k-period cycles (k\(\geq 3)\) and the domain of the existence of the discrete Hopf bifurcation are constructed. Section D contains further discussions of the exponential case. Part III extends the analysis to the case where there is one stock and many regions. In Section A, the model is presented. The elasticity of growth, the slope properties, the ranking of stocks according to size, and the domain of stability are derived. In Section B, the special case where the comparative advantages producing function is log-linear is considered. Numerical and geometrical descriptions are provided for the Mobus Barycentric Coordinates, local and partial turbulence, strange attractors and containers, as well as hybrid attractors and containers. It is shown that in the one-stock, three-region model, the discrete process contains three fundamental bifurcations, i.e., Hopf-like bifurcation, period doubling and pathways to determined chaos through Feigenbaum slope sequences. In Section C, empirical evidence is provided to show the regional relative instability in the U.S. Part IV explores the properties of a multiple-stock, multiple-region model. The general model is first presented. For the log-linear case, numerical results are provided for two stocks and two locations as well as for two stocks and multiple locations. The range of parameters for the stability of two-period cycles and higher iterates are derived. This book is a useful and interesting resource book for researchers in applied mathematics. Its level of difficulty is within the reach of researchers in social, biological and natural sciences, although the book assumes that the reader has some knowledge of catastrophe theory.