Grantee Research Project Results

2002 Progress Report: Agent-Based Modeling of Industrial Ecosystems

EPA Grant Number: R829688
Title: Agent-Based Modeling of Industrial Ecosystems
Investigators: Andrews, Clinton J. , Axtell, Robert
Institution: Rutgers University - New Brunswick , Brookings Institution
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2005 (Extended to June 30, 2006)
Project Period Covered by this Report: July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003
Project Amount: $334,146
RFA: Corporate Environmental Behavior: Examining the Effectiveness of Government Interventions and Voluntary Initiatives (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Justice

Objective:

The objectives of this research project are to: (1) investigate behavioral and organizational questions associated with environmental regulation of firms; and (2) test whether a bottomup approach that highlights principal-agent problems offers new insights and empirical validity.

Progress Summary:

In this research project, using the simulation software Ascape, we proposed to create multiagent simulation models of firms, ground them empirically in case studies, and aggregate statistical evidence. During Year 1 of the project, we focused on the following “premodeling” tasks:

Axtell led the mechanical task of documenting the extant Ascape Java libraries to make the modeling framework more user friendly.
Andrews reviewed the organizational behavior literature to align the modeling effort with current debates in that field.
Both Andrews and Axtell presented the basic ideas of the proposed modeling effort before a wide variety of audiences. The presentations provided useful guidance for finetuning the project design.
Andrews’ Ph.D. student, Seong-Jai Kim, conducted empirical research that characterized facility-level materials balances and company performance, using the New Jersey Right-to-Know data and standard financial and operating data sources.
Andrews’ Ph.D. student, Matthew Cuddy, continued empirical research and also created a project Web site at Rutgers University.

Future Activities:

During the next reporting period, the focus of this research project will be on: (1) conducting case studies of firms; and (2) building operational multiagent simulation models of firms.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 21 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

pollution prevention, green chemistry, life-cycle analysis, alternatives, sustainable development, clean technologies, innovative technology, renewable, waste reduction, waste minimization, environmentally conscious manufacturing, public policy, decisionmaking, psychological, preferences, sociological, social science, polymer processing, plastics,, Sustainable Industry/Business, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Social Science, Economics and Business, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Corporate Performance, government-industry interaction, clean technology, corporate decision making, environmental behavior, pollution prevention, computer generated alternative synthesis, environmentally conscious manufacturing, clean manufacturing designs, corporate environmental behavior, computer simulation modeling, corporate environmental policy, environmental policy case studies, sustainable development, cleaner production, environmentally conscious design, agent based modeling

Relevant Websites:

http://www.brookings.edu/dynamics Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.