Public Policy Simulation Approach: its Applications and Prospects
This paper explores an ABM simulation approach and its applications and prospects in public policy.The debate on knowledge claims of social sciences is still unsolved.With the continuum of epistemological approaches,social simulation studies take their own nomothetic-idiographic position,while no doubt the ABM simulation approach in public policy occupies an important position.The complexity of the process of public policy restricts the effectiveness of traditional research methods.The scenario-based system analysis of public policy systems and mechanisms-based analysis of agents make the ABM approach break through the traditional research methods.With scientific modeling technology,rigorous testing session,3D presentation of policy outcomes,and group decision making platform,the ABM simulation approach provides unique scientific and humane exciting prospects in public policy area.