Preface

Agent-based Computational Economics applies an interdisciplinary approach that combines knowledge from Agent-based Computational Modelling and Economics with the scope to observe, analyze and discuss the evolution of an economic system composed by intelligent agents. From 1990 till now, agent-based computational modelling has gained much attention but despite this phenomenon a fundamental issue is provoked by the next key question: Can agent-based computational model represent economic reality? To answer this, we must say that any agent-based model is a model of a real economic system that takes input data and creates output data by running computer experiments.

The development of theory and applications of agent-based computational models determined in the last years has brought a real revolution regarding the modelling of complex social systems. Presently, we can say that there is a real confrontation between the adepts of equation-based modelling and of agent-based modelling. A similar "war" was encountered at the end of 19th century and the beginning of 20th century between classical economic school and neoclassical one that lasted till the middle of 20th century with the victory of neoclassical school of Economics. Starting from 1990, Agent-based Economics started an offensive movement in order to obtain important position in the system of mainstream Economics.

The confrontation between these two modelling techniques can be won by agent-based modelling only if there lies a clear strategic plan that must be followed by the scientists that are adepts of this specific technique. In our opinion, this strategic plan must contain the following objectives:

1. Creating a general economic theory starting from the concept of agent considered as an entity that encapsulates parameters, variables, procedures and other sub-agents;
2. Using this general theory, there must be created a set of agent-based models feasible for analyzing different aspects of economic reality;
3. This set of models must be implemented using a general software platform like for example NetLogo;
4. After implementing these models, then there must be created a set of computer games usable for training students in order to groom their abilities to be successful economic agents on real economic markets;
5. We can draw the following features regarding the confrontation between adepts of equation-based and agent-based modelling in the field of Economics;
6. The adepts of agent-base modelling are fully offensive and this reality is proved by the increasing number of papers, books, software items that deal with the subject of Agent-based Computational Economics;
7. The adepts of equation-based modelling are in defensive positions and try to sustain their theories but the evolution of global economy encountered after 2008 is not in favour for such adepts;
8. The economic theory that utilizes agent-based modelling is still in the pipeline and it is hoped that such theory will become mature in the middle of 21st century;
9. If agent-based economic theory will gain the confrontation with equation-based theory then all the system of teaching economic sciences will dramatically change in the sense that students will use economic games implemented using agent-based modelling in order to obtain necessary abilities to be successful economic agents on real global economic market. At present, students memorize a set of economic theories that help them to pass exams; in the future, such students will have to pass "exams" implemented like economic games that will force our students to gain necessary abilities for becoming successful economic agents. This new training process will be exactly as the one used in our days for training pilots of airplanes; the pilot must pass the exam with flight simulator in order to become pilot of real airplanes. In other words, students must pass exams for administration of a simulated company implemented in the frame of an economic game in order to become active agent on real economic market.