Re: [Swarm-Modelling] general question on complexity

[Steve Railsback]

Jacob Lee wrote:
> Is the complexity of a system strongly correlated to the computational 
> complexity of a model of that system?

Remember that we do not just build a model of a system (if we are smart 
and ever want to 'finish'). Instead, we build a model of some particular 
problem of the system. Until you specify what problem the model 
addresses, you cannot know how complex the model needs to be.

Among the most complex and uncertain natural systems are marine fish 
populations. Probably the most widely used model of these populations is:

 P(t+1) = r P(t) (C-P(t))

The Ricker equation is an extremely simple model yet it solves the 
problem of predicting next year's population size when all you know is 
population sizes from previous years.

Steve Railsback