This book discusses mathematical models for various applications in economics, with a focus on non-linear dynamics. Based on the author's over 50 years of active work in the field, the book has been inspired by models from the period between 1920 and 1950. Following a brief introduction to economics for mathematicians and other modelers, it assembles a repository of useful specific functions for global dynamic modeling. Furthermore, twelve "research stubs" - outlined research agendas that have not yet been fully worked on - are suggested for further study and could even be expanded to entire research projects. The book is a valuable resource, particularly for young scientists who are skilled in mathematical and computational techniques and are looking for applications in economics.

This book deals with the economic aspects of changing attitudes in arts and sciences. The effects of the public good character of culture, along with the very long production period and lifetime for its products, are emphasized, since both contribute to the failure of normal market solutions. Embodiment of ideas and the consequences of modern reproduction technology for protection of property rights are closely examined. The evolution within arts and sciences, which often seems to return to previously scrapped ideals, is illustrated by detailed case studies, in which the importance of changing tastes, rather than progress proper, is emphasized. The author attempts an understanding for this using Darwinian evolution in combination with modern mathematical complexity theory, expressed in terms accessible to the general reader. The second edition is extended and updated especially as regards the illustration material.

The book focuses classical oligopoly theory as developed in 1840-1940. By the end of this period oligopoly came under the spell of game theory in its probabilistic equilibrium format. Work by Cournot, von Stackelberg, Palander, and Hotelling, causal and dynamic in essence, but ignored, is reconsidered in the light of modern dynamics using topology and numerics. As particular features, von Stackelberg leadership is included in the dynamic Cournot model, the Hotelling problem is solved with elastic demand, thus skipping the absurd idea of quadratic transportation costs. Further, it is shown that the celebrated destabilisation of Cournot equilibrium under increased competition is due to mistakenly assuming constant returns, and that the whole idea of rational expectations is untenable in dynamic oligopoly. Early original ideas in oligopoly theory, such as coexistence and multiplicity of attractors are focused again after many undeserved decades of oblivion.

This book was first pUblished in 1989 as volume 336 in the Springer series "Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems," and it reappeared in a 2nd edition as a Springer monograph in 1991. After considerable revisions it appeared in a 3rd edition in 1993. The origin, still visible in the 3rd edition, was the joint work of the author with Professor Martin J. Beckmann, documented in two co-authored mono graphs "Spatial Economics" (North-Holland 1985), and "Spatial Structures" (Springer-Verlag 1990). Essential dynamics had, however, been almost com pletely lacking in these works, and the urge to focus the dynamic issues was great. To fill this particular gap was the aim of the previous editions, and so the spatial aspect provided core and focus. In the present edition a substantial quantity of spatial issues have been removed: All those that were dynamic only in the sense that structures were characterized which were structurally stable, or robust in a changing world. The removed material has meanwhile been published as a separate mono graph under the title "Mathematical Location and Land Use Theory" (Springer-Verlag 1996)."

Attractors, Bifurcations, & Chaos - now in its second edition - begins with an introduction to mathematical methods in modern nonlinear dynamics and deals with differential equations. Phenomena such as bifurcations and deterministic chaos are given considerable emphasis, both in the methodological part, and in the second part, containing various applications in economics and in regional science. Coexistence of attractors and the multiplicity of development paths in nonlinear systems are central topics. The applications focus on issues such as business cycles, oligopoly, interregional trade dynamics, and economic development theory.

This second edition covers all main topics of spatial economics, plant location, and the theory of nested market areas. The book starts from the classical models of the space economy which are stated in terms of precise mathematical models. Especially, the book offers a lavish supply of computer graphics to make the results easily understandable.

Extracts from reviews to the first edition:

"This book is an excellent introduction to the theory of continuous location of economic activities in two-dimensional space based on differential equations and to their solution by vector calculus methods.

As Puu states "good science is to be easily understood. This book is, indeed, a lucid and easily readable introduction to the fundamental concepts of spatial economic theory and the differential calculus machinery of the continuous transportation model."

K. C. Mosler in "Location Science"

"This book represents an honest attempt at introducing spatial economic theory. The author does not appear to be interested in showing off his obvious mathematical skills. His intention is to summarize the accumulated knowledge in the field and present the main results in a simple manner. He does an admirable job. Of help are the high-quality graphics, the omission of semicooked ideas and messy results, and the author's extensive experience on the subject over a long period of time."

P. S. Kanaroglou in "Environment and Planning"

The book focuses classical oligopoly theory as developed in 1840-1940. By the end of this period oligopoly came under the spell of game theory in its probabilistic equilibrium format. Work by Cournot, von Stackelberg, Palander, and Hotelling, causal and dynamic in essence, but ignored, is reconsidered in the light of modern dynamics using topology and numerics. As particular features, von Stackelberg leadership is included in the dynamic Cournot model, the Hotelling problem is solved with elastic demand, thus skipping the absurd idea of quadratic transportation costs. Further, it is shown that the celebrated destabilisation of Cournot equilibrium under increased competition is due to mistakenly assuming constant returns, and that the whole idea of rational expectations is untenable in dynamic oligopoly. Early original ideas in oligopoly theory, such as coexistence and multiplicity of attractors are focused again after many undeserved decades of oblivion.

This book deals with the economic aspects of changing attitudes in arts and sciences. The effects of the public good character of culture, along with the very long production period and lifetime for its products, are emphasized, since both contribute to the failure of normal market solutions. Embodiment of ideas, and the consequences of modern reproduction technology for protection of property rights are closely examined.

The first part of this book is an introduction to the mathematical methods of modern nonlinear dynamics. It deals with differential equations, ordinary and partial, iterated maps, and bifurcation theory. The second part focuses applications to economics and regional science. Topics such as business cycles, oligopoly, interregional trade, and economic development theory are included. Bifurcation analysis, and studies of the various attractors, with their basins, provide the core, both of the background material and the applications. Coexistence of attractors and multiplicity of development paths are emphasized throughout. The chapters devoted to spatial applications focus the emergence of geographical patterns.

Covers all main topics of spatial economics, plant location, the theory of nested market areas, including rank-size relations, spatial competition and pricing, land use theory and the emergence of specialization and trade, commuting and traffic distributions according to the gravity and entropy hypotheses, migration, and the layout of transportation networks. A strong focus is on the continuous two dimensional geographical space, with Beckmann's continuous flow model as central piece. Another feature is a focus on structural stability rather than optimality of emergent patterns. All the specific mathematical tools needed are developed within context. The whole approach is intuitive, and supported by lavish computer graphics. The new edition contains extensive material on spatial competition, oligopoly theory in Hotelling's setup. The Hotelling case is formally worked out with elastic demand, which limits the occurrence of some of the confusing paradoxes Hotelling found for inelastic demand.