Agent-based models in Nature

I just came across a few articles in this weeks Nature about the use of agent-based modelling which I found interesting and thought worth sharing.

To quote Nature, "two Opinion pieces explore the promise of Agent-Based Models (ABMs): J. Doyne Farmer and Duncan Foley on what they can do for economics and Josh Epstein on how the models are being used in pandemic planning. In a News Feature, Mark Buchanan finds out what went so badly wrong with the economy and whether ABMs could have predicted the crunch. These pieces are accompanied by an editorial and an interview on the Nature Podcast."

The discussion of ABM is about 13 minutes into the podcast and well worth listening to as it describes ABM and there potential in a simple way.