This paper introduces random versions of successive approximations and multigrid algorithms for computing approximate solutions to a class of finite and infinite horizon Markovian decision problems (MDPs). We prove that these algorithms succeed in breaking the curse of dimensionality for a...

This paper compares the performance of the Howard (1960) policy iteration algorithm for infinite-horizon continuous-state Markovian decision processes (MDP's) using alternative random, quasi- random, and deterministic discretizations of the state space, or grids. Each grid corresponds to an...

We consider the problem of computing approximations to fixed points of quasilinear contraction mappings defined on the space of continuous functions of $d$ variables. Our main emphasis is on large d. Examples of such mappings include the Bellman operator from the theory of dynamic programming....

We examine whether a simple agent--based model can generate asset price bubbles and crashes of the type observed in a series of laboratory asset market experiments beginning with the work of Smith, Suchanek and Williams (1988). We follow the methodology of Gode and Sunder (1993, 1997) and...

Agent-based computational economics (ACE) is the computational study of economies modelled as evolving decentralized systems of autonomous interacting agents. A key focus of ACE research is understanding how global regularities arise from the bottom up, through the repeated local interactions of...

AFRICAN ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN MARKEDLY WORSE THAN THAT OF OTHER REGIONS. THUS, THE GOVERNMENTS OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES HAVE ASSUMED MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ECONOMIC REFORMS AND GROWTH. ALONG WITH THESE RESPONSIBILITIES HAS COME AN INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE INTERRELATEDNESS OF DIFFERENT...

Artificial life (alife) is the bottom-up study of basic phenomena commonly associated with living agents, such as self- replication, evolution, adaptation, self-organization, exploitation, competition, cooperation, and social network formation. Alife complements the traditional biological and...

Multi-Agent Based Simulation is a branch of Distributed Artificial Intelligence that builds the base for computer simulations which connect the micro and macro level of social and economic scenarios. This paper presents a new method of modelling the formation and change of patterns of action in...

Agent-based computational economics (ACE) is the computational study of economies modeled as evolving systems of autonomous interacting agents. Starting from initial conditions, specified by the modeler, the computational economy evolves over time as its constituent agents repeatedly interact...

Many numerical methods have been developed in an attempt to find solutions to nonlinear rational expectations models. Because these algorithms are numerical in nature, they rely heavily on computing power and take sizeable cycles to solve. In this paper we present a numerical tool known as...