Attractors, bifurcations, & chaos

More about the book

The present book builds upon various editions of my earlier work, first published in 1989 and subsequently revised and expanded in 1991, 1993, and 1997, with a Russian translation released as well. The initial editions emphasized applications, while the later one included chapters on mathematical concepts like ordinary differential equations and iterated maps, making it more self-contained and suitable for economics students studying dynamical systems. To enhance its pedagogical value, the number of illustrations was increased. The 2000 edition, titled "Attractors, Bifurcations, and Chaos - Nonlinear Phenomena in Economics," underwent significant changes, prompting the decision to give it a new title. This edition introduced two new chapters on partial differential equations and bifurcations and catastrophe theory, thereby providing a more comprehensive mathematical background. Although the book performed well, I felt a complete rewrite was necessary instead of merely reprinting it, as the material from earlier versions was over a decade old. Given the rapid development in nonlinear dynamics, some analyses appeared outdated. Consequently, the revision was extensive, reflecting the advancements in the field.