Social-ecological systems as complex adaptive systems: modeling and policy implications

S.A. Levin; A. Xepapadeas; A.S. Crépin; J. Norberg; A.J. de Zeeuw; C. Folke; T.P. Hughes; K.J. Arrow; S. Barrett; G. Daily; P. Ehrlich; N. Kautsky; K-G. Mäler; S. Polasky; M. Troell; J.R. Vincent; B. Walker

doi:10.1017/s1355770x12000460

Social-ecological systems as complex adaptive systems: modeling and policy implications

S.A. Levin, A. Xepapadeas, A.S. Crépin, J. Norberg, A.J. de Zeeuw, C. Folke, T.P. Hughes, K.J. Arrow, S. Barrett, G. Daily, P. Ehrlich, N. Kautsky, K-G. Mäler, S. Polasky, M. Troell, J.R. Vincent, B. Walker

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

563 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Systems linking people and nature, known as social-ecological systems, are increasingly understood as complex adaptive systems. Essential features of these complex adaptive systems – such as nonlinear feedbacks, strategic interactions, individual and spatial heterogeneity, and varying time scales – pose substantial challenges for modeling. However, ignoring these characteristics can distort our picture of how these systems work, causing policies to be less effective or even counterproductive. In this paper we present recent developments in modeling social-ecological systems, illustrate some of these challenges with examples related to coral reefs and grasslands, and identify the implications for economic and policy analysis.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	111-132
Journal	Environment and Development Economics
Volume	18
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/s1355770x12000460
Publication status	Published - 2013

Access to Document

10.1017/s1355770x12000460

Cite this

Levin, S. A., Xepapadeas, A., Crépin, A. S., Norberg, J., de Zeeuw, A. J., Folke, C., Hughes, T. P., Arrow, K. J., Barrett, S., Daily, G., Ehrlich, P., Kautsky, N., Mäler, K.-G., Polasky, S., Troell, M., Vincent, J. R., & Walker, B. (2013). Social-ecological systems as complex adaptive systems: modeling and policy implications. Environment and Development Economics, 18(2), 111-132. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1355770x12000460

@article{52ada1bd223942a5a1506f471de22424,

title = "Social-ecological systems as complex adaptive systems: modeling and policy implications",

abstract = "Systems linking people and nature, known as social-ecological systems, are increasingly understood as complex adaptive systems. Essential features of these complex adaptive systems – such as nonlinear feedbacks, strategic interactions, individual and spatial heterogeneity, and varying time scales – pose substantial challenges for modeling. However, ignoring these characteristics can distort our picture of how these systems work, causing policies to be less effective or even counterproductive. In this paper we present recent developments in modeling social-ecological systems, illustrate some of these challenges with examples related to coral reefs and grasslands, and identify the implications for economic and policy analysis.",

author = "S.A. Levin and A. Xepapadeas and A.S. Cr{\'e}pin and J. Norberg and {de Zeeuw}, A.J. and C. Folke and T.P. Hughes and K.J. Arrow and S. Barrett and G. Daily and P. Ehrlich and N. Kautsky and K-G. M{\"a}ler and S. Polasky and M. Troell and J.R. Vincent and B. Walker",

year = "2013",

doi = "10.1017/s1355770x12000460",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

pages = "111--132",

journal = "Environment and Development Economics",

issn = "1355-770X",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

number = "2",

}

Levin, SA, Xepapadeas, A, Crépin, AS, Norberg, J, de Zeeuw, AJ, Folke, C, Hughes, TP, Arrow, KJ, Barrett, S, Daily, G, Ehrlich, P, Kautsky, N, Mäler, K-G, Polasky, S, Troell, M, Vincent, JR & Walker, B 2013, 'Social-ecological systems as complex adaptive systems: modeling and policy implications', Environment and Development Economics, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 111-132. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1355770x12000460

TY - JOUR

T1 - Social-ecological systems as complex adaptive systems

T2 - modeling and policy implications

AU - Levin, S.A.

AU - Xepapadeas, A.

AU - Crépin, A.S.

AU - Norberg, J.

AU - de Zeeuw, A.J.

AU - Folke, C.

AU - Hughes, T.P.

AU - Arrow, K.J.

AU - Barrett, S.

AU - Daily, G.

AU - Ehrlich, P.

AU - Kautsky, N.

AU - Mäler, K-G.

AU - Polasky, S.

AU - Troell, M.

AU - Vincent, J.R.

AU - Walker, B.

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Systems linking people and nature, known as social-ecological systems, are increasingly understood as complex adaptive systems. Essential features of these complex adaptive systems – such as nonlinear feedbacks, strategic interactions, individual and spatial heterogeneity, and varying time scales – pose substantial challenges for modeling. However, ignoring these characteristics can distort our picture of how these systems work, causing policies to be less effective or even counterproductive. In this paper we present recent developments in modeling social-ecological systems, illustrate some of these challenges with examples related to coral reefs and grasslands, and identify the implications for economic and policy analysis.

AB - Systems linking people and nature, known as social-ecological systems, are increasingly understood as complex adaptive systems. Essential features of these complex adaptive systems – such as nonlinear feedbacks, strategic interactions, individual and spatial heterogeneity, and varying time scales – pose substantial challenges for modeling. However, ignoring these characteristics can distort our picture of how these systems work, causing policies to be less effective or even counterproductive. In this paper we present recent developments in modeling social-ecological systems, illustrate some of these challenges with examples related to coral reefs and grasslands, and identify the implications for economic and policy analysis.

U2 - 10.1017/s1355770x12000460

DO - 10.1017/s1355770x12000460

M3 - Article

SN - 1355-770X

VL - 18

SP - 111

EP - 132

JO - Environment and Development Economics

JF - Environment and Development Economics

IS - 2

ER -

Social-ecological systems as complex adaptive systems: modeling and policy implications

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this