Globalisation, Regionalisation, and Behavioural Responses of Land Use Agents

C. Brown, D. Murray-Rust, J. van Vliet, S. J. Alam, P.H. Verburg, M.D.A. Rounsevell

    Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    The global land system is under intense pressure from human demands for a range of different services. Neo-classical economic theory suggests that globalised free trade is the most efficient way of handling these demands, allowing maximum productivity and specialisation of supply. However, political responses are often protectionist in nature, designed to ensure continuity of land uses and the regional production of multiple services. We investigate the implications of both globalisation and regionalisation of demand for the efficiency and productivity of land uses and, using an agent-based model of land use change, how realistic forms of human behaviour can strengthen, weaken or alter these implications. We show that 'rational' productive agents tend towards optimal land use configurations under globalised systems, but that 'irrational' behaviour yields superior results under regionalisation. Finally, the adoption of multifunctional land uses is found to be a strong and effective emergent property of agent populations under regional demand. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationMilti-Agent-Based Simulation XIV
    Place of PublicationBerlin, Heidelberg
    PublisherSpringer-Verlag
    Pages101-114
    ISBN (Print)9783642547836
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2014

    Publication series

    NameLecture Notes in Computer Science

    Bibliographical note

    Gebeurtenis: International Workshop, MABS 2013, Saint Paul, MN, USA, May 6-7, 2013

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