Mathematical Models in the Social Sciences
- 168 pages
- 6 hours of reading
As the demand for substantial mathematical training among social science students has grown, the absence of an adequate textbook between elementary and advanced levels has become critical. The authors, seasoned experts in the field, have addressed this gap with a comprehensive volume, now republished by MIT Press. This work explores the formation and analysis of mathematical models, providing detailed interpretations of results. Each chapter is self-contained, including the necessary mathematics, and covers a vast array of social science topics using various mathematical techniques. Students are encouraged to create their own models, making this text comparable to mathematical methods books used in physical sciences and engineering. The prerequisites are minimal, requiring only a course in finite mathematics and a semester of calculus. Key topics include methodology, preference rankings (axiomatic approach), ecology (dynamic models), market stability (dynamic model), a Markov chain model in sociology, stabilization of money flow (discrete potential theory), branching processes, organization theory (graph theory applications), and optimal scheduling (dynamic programming problem). This republished work is an essential resource for social science and mathematics students alike.
