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adrianwrigley edited this page Dec 20, 2012 · 19 revisions

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An Agent Based Economic Simulation - "abes"

You are at the repository of sfr-abes, an economic simulator being developed by members of the Systemic Fiscal Reform Group.

What is the Systemic Fiscal Reform Group?

The Systemic Fiscal Reform Group (SFR Group) is a group established in 2008 to study and promote ways of changing the basic operation of the economic system to improve human welfare. The founding members were Robin Smith, Neale Upstone and Dr. Adrian Wrigley. Working as a loose-knit "think tank" and campaigning organisation, members have published magazine articles, done radio interviews and presented at seminars and conferences.

SFR Group members believe that humanity is poorly served by the contemporary system of money, taxation and welfare payments. Reform of the system is not possible without introducing new approaches which overcome political barriers, unenlightened self-interest and erroneous analysis.

Sfr-abes is an economic simulator designed to demonstrate and test the Group's ideas about the operation of the political-economic system and allow people to explore possible approaches to reform.

The SFR Group believes that free markets are highly desirable, but cannot exist without peaceable settlement of natural, inalienable claims over resources and territory. The contemporary economy comprises cartels in key areas such as oil, money and inventions, backed by a hierarchy of coercive force rooted in the world's armed forces. Taxation of income, sales and profits is incompatible with free markets. Extortion of people, businesses and governments to resolve resource and territorial claims is a major barrier to the progress of humanity.

The SFR Group believes that an economic simulator is an attractive way of helping people understand the operation of the political economy and encourage debate on the core issues.

Why is another economic simulator needed?

Sfr-abes has the unique combination of features:

  • founded in behavioural microeconomics using models of people as economic agents
  • models a complete economy (ie a closed system)
  • is free and open source software
  • is based on ideas drawn from mainstream science and predominantly classical economics
  • is implemented by top professional software developers
Our search has not found any project with these characteristics. more detail is given here.

What is the purpose of the simulator?

The economic simulator is designed to test ideas concerning the economic and financial stability of different economic systems, in particular those operating during the past century and possible reforms thereof. The simulator is intended to investigate proposals to stabilise the system through reform of the monetary and fiscal systems, especially those connected with radical reform of housing finance believed by many to be central to the Global Financial Crisis.

More information about the objectives is here.

Who is developing the simulator?

Sfr-abes is being developed by members of the Systemic Fiscal Reform Group. People currently involved directly in this software project are:

  • Dr. Adrian Wrigley ("product owner", SFR Group co-founder)
  • Dave Lloyd ("lead developer")
  • Neale Upstone (SFR Group co-founder)
  • Steve Thornton
We are accomplished in software, computer science, natural science, finance, economics and politics. This combination of talents gives us an exceptional insight into the problems and potential solutions of the political economy.

Why have we chosen to develop in Java?

Sfr-abes is being developed using the Java programming language. This decision was made based on the following reasons:

  • We believe it is satisfactory, and can be used to achieve the project goals
  • The Lead Developer is highly proficient in Java, having used it in recent projects
  • Other people involved in the project have at least Java adequate experience
  • Java is accessible to a large audience, taught very widely now
  • Other economic modelling projects are in Java, facilitating cross-fertilisation of ideas/code/people
The members of the project team are all highly accomplished in software development, engineering, technology and/or science. If/when some or all of the project would benefit from the use of other languages, they will be used accordingly. The code represents, in effect, the developers promoting their analysis of how an economic model *should* be constructed - it is the medium of communication.

Key to choice of language is familiarity to third parties wishing to examine, verify, adapt or adopt the software. The public access to the source code is a central part of this strategy.

Where is the code?

The project is very challenging - there is nothing comparable in existence, and the implementation will need to overcome significant conceptual challenges. As of December 2012, the coding phase of the project hasn't begun. Coding will only proceed once a clearer understanding of the design has been achieved. As soon as coding begins, source files will be found in this repository.

Why not join in?

If you would like to participate, just drop us an email at info@sfrgroup.org! Especially welcome at this stage are people who:

  • advocate reform of the taxation and monetary system and/or
  • want to examine the operation of the economy from scientific principles and/or
  • can commit long hours to software development and
  • seek a deeper understanding of the society we live in
The SFR Group welcomes all people who share our principles and are committed to creating a better future!
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