Research Group Modelling and Simulation

The focus of our group is creating tools for data collection and analysis for empirical research in economics and social science and training with such tools --- as well as the development of tools for modeling and simulation of economic and social processes. The group iw mainly working on micro and multilevel models and on agent-based simulation models, in which interactions can be represented among individuals and between the individual and the system level.

Beside the development of simulation models and modeling tools we are interested in mathematical analysis which is feasible in simpler cases, but necessitates advanced mathematical knowledge.

Simulation models of this type have been implemented by government agencies for years, for instance to assess consequences of tax and transfer reforms. During the past decade simulation models have gained increasing interest in economics and social science methodology, mainly since the time when agent-based simulation became a standard for simulating economic and social processes.

In the past few years the group worked mainly with data mining and agent-based modeling. The group has participated in international research projects in which simulation models and tools have been developed and applied.

Teaching responsibilities are mainly in training students in empirical methods of economics and social science (data collection and analysis), in modeling economic and social processes as well in privacy and data security. Moreover, the group is responsible for the faculty's annual report, the examination office and part of the evaluation --- tasks which more and more prevent the group from fulfilling its original tasks.