A physical analogue of the Schelling model.
We present a mathematical link between Schelling's socio-economic model of segregation and the physics of clustering. We replace the economic concept of "utility" by the physics concept of a particle's internal energy. As a result cluster dynamics is driven by the "surface tension" force. The resultant segregated areas can be very large and can behave like spherical "liquid" droplets or as a collection of static clusters in "frozen" form. This model will hopefully provide a useful framework for studying many spatial economic phenomena that involve individuals making location choices as a function of the characteristics and choices of their neighbors.
Vinkovic
Dejan
D
Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA. dejan@ias.edu
Kirman
Alan
A
D006240:Happiness; D006798:Housing / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011287:Prejudice; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors