Session D39: Focus Session: Econophysics and Applications Outside of Physics

2:30 PM–5:30 PM, Monday, March 10, 2008
Morial Convention Center - 231

Sponsoring Unit: GSNP
Chair: Victor Yakovenko, University of Maryland

Abstract ID: BAPS.2008.MAR.D39.12

Abstract: D39.00012 : Power-law behavior and condensation phenomena in disordered urn models: Analysis and its application to macro-economics

5:06 PM–5:18 PM

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Authors:

  Jun-ichi Inoue
    (Hokkaido University)

  Jun Ohkubo
    (Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo )

We investigate equilibrium statistical properties of a disordered urn model. New types of urn models are proposed, in which quenched disorder parameters play an important role in generating power-law behavior. By choosing an arbitrary energy function for each urn, one can construct a lot of urn models, and we assume that the energy function contains a disordered parameters. We evaluate the occupation probability $P(k)$ that an arbitrary urn has $k$ balls by using the concept of statistical physics of disordered systems. In our new disordered urn model, we find that above critical density $\rho_{\rm c}$ for a given temperature, condensation phenomenon occurs and most of the balls are condensed into an urn with the lowest energy level. As the result, the occupation probability changes its scaling behavior from an exponential-law to a heavy tailed power-law in large $k$ regime. We also discuss an application of our results for explaining of macro economy, in particular, emergence of wealth differentials.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2008.MAR.D39.12