multiagent-based simulation of societal networking in a consumer marketplace
The Internet provides a means for customers to compare prices for products from several different sellers. However, the customers act individually and they are missing out on the potential benefits that can accrue from acting cooperatively and in concert. The benefits include lower prices, better terms, improved services, and increased efficiency. Businesses have begun forming supply-chain alliances to achieve these benefits, but it has not yet been feasible among consumers. However, using mobile devices can allow for the sharing of information among consumers. Multiagent networking helps in implementing a simulation for mobile agents in a marketplace of consumers. Using basic knowledge in economics and societal networking to develop the groundwork for the implementation of this architecture will provide results to show the benefits that can be gained by consumers. In this experiment, a grocery market has been set up to demonstrate how communication between honest agents representing consumers can result in a lower overall cost for the community.
multiagent systems consumer markets agent-based simulation