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A Glossary

AGENT: A biologically inspired miniprogram designed to behave like an economic entity, such as a household, bank, retailer, or government agency.

BOTTOM-UP MODEL: A computer simulation that humans build around agents and genes, then allow Darwinian principles to take over.

GENE: A small piece of a genetic algorithm that gives it certain characteristics, such as a household's preference for quality vs. price.

GENETIC ALGORITHM: A computer program that can evolve and mutate by exchanging genes with another genetic algorithm.


Updated June 15, 1997 by bwwebmaster
Copyright 1997, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
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