What is chaos? How can it be measured? How are the models estimated? What is catastrophe? How is it modelled? How are the models estimated? These questions are the focus of this volume. Beginning with an explanation of the differences between deterministic and probabilistic models, Brown then introduces the reader to chaotic dynamics. Other topics covered are finding settings in which chaos can be measured, estimating chaos using nonlinear least squares and specifying catastrophe models. Finally a nonlinear system of equations that models catastrophe using real survey data is estimated.

Table of Contents

Working with Deterministic Mathematical Models PART ONE What Is Chaos? Measuring Chaos Estimating Chaos Models PART TWO What Is a Catastrophe? Strategies for Specifying Catastrophe Models Estimating Catastrophe Models

About the Author

Courtney Brown is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Emory University. Dr. Brown has taught differential equation modeling to graduate and undergraduate students for 20 years. His teaching and research interests also include other quantitative methods, political musicology, science fiction and politics, electoral behavior, political parties, democratic development, and politics and the environment. He has authored three books that deal with differential equation models in the social sciences, including a title for the Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences series: Chaos and Catastrophe Theories (1995).