Peak-to-peak dynamics in the dynastic cycle (Q5951012)

The Usher's three-class model of the dynastic cycle in ancient China which has been analyzed by \textit{G. Feichtinger, C. V. Forst} and \textit{C. Piccardi} [A nonlinear dynamic model for the dynastic cycle, Chaos Solitons Fractals 7, No. 2, 257-271 (1996)] is considered. The model describes a three-class society consisting of farmers, bandits and rules and attempts to explain the periodic alternation between despotism and anarchy in the chinese history. It is shown that the model under consideration displays a so-called peak-to-peak dynamics that is the amplitude of a peak (relative maximum) of a variable can be predicted (with good approximation) by the simple knowledge of the previous peak amplitude. The study of peak-to-peak dynamics provides some very useful tools of analysis with respect to interrelations among peaks (strongest despotism or strongest anarchy) and their intervals of occurrence.