A Critique of Forrester's Model of an Urban Area

Abstract

A group of new experiments which we have performed using Forrester's model are presented: a study of rent control, effects of changing key parameters, and a study of changing labor requirements which explores the implications of exogenous variables for the model. A second section presents specific criticisms of Forrester's model, an economic evaluation of the model, and ends with some general remarks concerning validation and extension of large models. In order to make this paper accessible to a wide audience, the paper begins with a tutorial description of Forrester's work. Copyright © 1972 by The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.