Robert Axtell has done a lot of interesting work on agent-based modeling of economic systems [1]. He has a new book coming out this year about simulating national firm growth patterns based on his recent research [2], which could provide an ideological platform for experimenting with policy decisions. Agent-based modeling is relatively new and untrusted among economic policy makers, but if the success of these models is any indication we will see a shift toward a complex systems approach over the next few decades.<p>1: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.css.gmu.edu&#x2F;~axtell&#x2F;Rob&#x2F;Research&#x2F;Research.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.css.gmu.edu&#x2F;~axtell&#x2F;Rob&#x2F;Research&#x2F;Research.html</a><p>2: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.css.gmu.edu&#x2F;~axtell&#x2F;Rob&#x2F;Research&#x2F;Pages&#x2F;Firms.html#7" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.css.gmu.edu&#x2F;~axtell&#x2F;Rob&#x2F;Research&#x2F;Pages&#x2F;Firms.html...</a>