Schelling's Model

Schelling's Model, developed by economist Thomas C. Schelling, is a pioneering concept in the study of segregation and social dynamics. Introduced in the early 1970s, this model explores how individual choices based on simple preferences can lead to complex patterns of segregation. In Schelling's framework, agents, representing individuals, are placed on a grid, and each agent has a preference for being surrounded by a certain percentage of similar agents. Surprisingly, even when individuals have a slight preference for homogeneity, the model demonstrates that this can result in the emergence of highly segregated patterns at the macro level. Schelling's Model has far-reaching implications, shedding light on the mechanisms behind self-segregation and raising questions about the dynamics of social systems. Its influence extends beyond economics into sociology and urban studies, making it a seminal contribution to our understanding of how micro-level decisions shape broader societal structures.