Journal of Systems Engineering and Electronics, Vol.11, No.l, 2000, ρρ.

14~20

An AI Embedded Object-Oriented Approach for

Formulating Computable General Equilibrium
Li Tong
Department of Automatic Control Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and
Technology, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China
Chen Shuheng
Department of Economics, National Chengchi University, Taipei, 11623
Feng Shan
Department of Automatic Control Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and
Technology, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China
(Received November 1, 1998)
A b s t r a c t : This paper proposes and illustrates an AI embedded object-oriented methodology to
formulate the computable general equilibrium (CGE) models. In this framework, a CGE model is
viewed as a collection of objects embedded AI or namely agents in computer world, corresponding
to economic agents and entities in real world, such as government, households, markets and so on. A
frame representation of major objects in CGE model is used for trade and environment. Embedded
AI object-oriented approach (or software agent) is used in the CGE model representation can able to
narrow the gap among the semantic representation, formal CGE (mathematical) representation and
computer and algorithm representation, and to improve CGE in understanding and maintenance etc.
In such a system, constructing a CGE model to appear an intuitive process rather than an abstract
process. This intuitive process needs more understanding of the substance of economics and the logic
underlying the problem rather than mathematical notation.

Keywords: Computable general equilibrium, Artificial intelligence, Object-oriented method,

Agents.

l . INTRODUCTION
O n e of t h e major a d v a n c e m e n t in applied economics since 1970s is t h e conversion of t h e well-
known W a l r a s i a n general e q u i l i b r i u m s t r u c t u r e from a n a b s t r a c t r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of a n e c o n o m y
into realistic models of a c t u a l economies. T h e conversion, k n o w n a s c o m p u t a b l e g e n e r a l e q u i -
librium ( C G E ) modeling, is d o n e by e n d o w i n g t h e s y s t e m of well-specified d e m a n d a n d s u p p l y
e q u a t i o n s with empirical c o n t e n t s a n d c o m p u t a t i o n a l g o r i t h m s . W i t h i n c r e a s i n g c o m p u t e r
power, t h e c o m p u t a b l e general e q u i l i b r i u m analysis h a s g r a d u a l l y b e c o m e a very c o m p e t i t i o n
a n a l y t i c a l tool for c o n d u c t i n g policy e v a l u a t i o n ( T h e a l t e r n a t i v e is t h e p a r t i a l e q u i h b r i u m
analysis, which basically a s s u m e s t h a t t h e e c o n o m y is c o m p o s e d of m a n y i n d e p e n d e n t a n d
u n r e l a t e d sectors. Of course, this a s s u m p t i o n is not realistic. B u t , b a c k t o 10 o r 20 y e a r s a g o ,
t h e limited c o m p u t e r power did n o t leave applied e c o n o m i s t s t o o m u c h choice.). N o w a d a y s ,
C G E is extensively applied t o policy r e l a t e d research, such a s t a x a t i o n , t r a d e policy, r e g i o n
developments, an environment protection.
For h u n d r e d s years of C G E models have b e e n b u i l t w i t h m o r e e x t e n s i v e a p p l i c a t i o n s ,
covering public finance a n d t a x a t i o n , economic i n t e g r a t i o n , G A T T n e g o t i a t i o n s , N o r t h - s o u t h
t r a d e , evaluation of d e v e l o p m e n t s t r a t e g i e s , a n d e n e r g y a n d e n v i r o n m e n t policies.
Paralleling w i t h t h i s evolution of a p p l i e d general e q u i h b r i u m m o d e l s is t h e d e v e l o p m e n t
of c o m p u t e r - b a s e d s u p p o r t for t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a n d s o l u t i o n of t h e s e m o d e l s . T h e i n i t i a l
efforts for r e p r e s e n t i n g C G E m o d e l s a r e problem-specific a n d r e q u i r e d t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of
F O R T R A N r o u t i n e s t o r e p r e s e n t t h e m o d e l in a c o m p u t e r - r e a d a b l e form a n d t o c o n d u c t
An ΑΙ Embedded Object-Oriented Approach for · 15

calibration and equilibrium computation. T h e equilibrium computations are usually based

o n e x t e n s i o n s of S c a r f ' s fixed-point a l g o r i t h m o r v a r i a n t s of t h e N e w t o n m e t h o d for s o l v i n g
s y s t e m s of n o n l i n e a r e q u a t i o n s . I n t h o s e d a y s , a l g o r i t h m i c a n d c o m p u t e r p o w e r w e r e t h e m a i n
c o n c e r n of m o d e l e r s s i n c e b o t h t h e t e c h n i c a l difficulties a n d c o m p u t i n g c o s t s h a d a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h t h e p r o c e s s of finding a n u m e r i c a l e q u i l i b r i u m t o t h e m o d e l , w h e r e a s t h e y a r e n o l o n g e r
p r o b l e m s t o d a y . S t a t i s t i c s s h o w t h a t t h e n u m e r i c a l s o l u t i o n d o e s n o t a c c o u n t for m o r e t h a n
1 5 % of t h e overall m o d e l i n g effort. Model formulation, implementation, d a t a preparation,
a n d s i m u l a t i o n r e s u l t s i n t e r p r e t a t i n g h a v e b e c o m e t h e m a j o r b u r d e n s of m o d e l i n g p r o c e s s .
M o r e o v e r , t h e C G E m o d e l s b u i l t b y professionals in a c a d e m i c i n s t i t u t i o n s m a y n o t b e
p r a c t i c a l l y i m p l e m e n t a b l e , i. e., t h e y c a n n o t b e easily u n d e r s t o o d a n d u s e d b y p o l i c y m a k e r s
in t h e g o v e r n m e n t s e c t o r . M a n y p o l i c y m a k e r s a r e v e r y s k e p t i c a l a b o u t t h e r e s u l t s from C G E
m o d e l s w h o s e c o m p l e x i t y is often b e y o n d t h e i r c o n t r o l . Of c o u r s e , o n e m a y h i r e a t e c h n i c a l
staff t o h e l p t h e m t r i m t h e m o d e l . B u t , t h i s is n o t a s a t i s f a c t o r y s o l u t i o n , b e c a u s e w h e n t h e
t e c h n i c a l staff leaves t h e p o s i t i o n , t h e m o d e l t r i m m e d b e f o r e m a y n o t b e r e u s a b l e , T h e v a l u e
of t h e m o d e l m a y d e c r e a s e t o z e r o w i t h i n a few y e a r s .
T h e difficulties c o m e from t h e fact t h a t t h r e e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s of t h e s a m e m o d e l a r e
needed before any policy simulation can b e carried out:
1) A s e m a n t i c r e p r e s e n t a t i o n w h i c h d e s c r i b e s t h e p o l i c y p r o b l e m a n d t h e m o d e l t o a d d r e s s
it in i n t u i t i v e t e r m s a n d t h a t c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d b y d e c i s i o n m a k e r ;
2) A f o r m a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n i n w h i c h t h e i n t u i t i v e m o d e l is t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a f o r m a l C G E
( m a t h e m a t i c a l ) m o d e l b y skilled a n a l y t i c a l p r o c e s s i o n a l s ;
3) A c o m p u t e r a n d a l g o r i t h m r e p r e s e n t a t i o n w h i c h is u s u a l l y i m p l e m e n t a t i o n - s p e c i f i c .
T h e m a i n difficulties in t h e c u r r e n t s t a t e of C G E m o d e l i n g lie in t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n
a m o n g t h e s e t h r e e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s . U n t i l c a n b e we m a k e s o m e b r e a k t h r o u g h s i n t h i s s t e p ,
t h e g r e a t p o t e n t i a l of C G E m o d e l i n g c a n b e fully e x p l o i t e d .
T h e paper proposes an AI embedded object-oriented meihodology to formulate the C G E
m o d e l s . I n t h i s f r a m e w o r k , a C G E m o d e l is t r e a t e d as a collection of o b j e c t s e m b e d d e d A I o r
a g e n t s w h i c h is c o n n e c t e d t o t h e e c o n o m i c a g e n t s s u c h as g o v e r n m e n t , h o u s e h o l d s , m a r k e t s .
T h e o b j e c t - o r i e n t e d m e t h o d e m b e d d e d A I ( A I O O M ) is u s e d in t h e C G E m o d e l r e p r e s e n -
tation t o narrow t h e gaps a m o n g a semantic representation, a formal C G E (mathematical)
representation a n d a computer a n d algorithm representation, a n d moreover to enhance t h e
u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d m a i n t e n a n c e of C G E m o d e l s . U s i n g A I O O M , c o n s t r u c t i n g a C G E m o d e l
t o a p p e a r a n i n t u i t i v e p r o c e s s r a t h e r t h a n a n a b s t r a c t p r o c e s s . H e n c e , i n s t e a d of b e i n g b o t h -
e r e d b y t e c h n i c a l n o t a t i o n s , A I O O M e n a b l e s m a k e r s t o focus o n t h e i n t u i t i v e a s p e c t of C G E
modeling.

2 . OBJECT-ORIENTED APPROACH EMBEDDED A I AND ITS

VIEW OF C G E MODELS

T h e o b j e c t - o r i e n t e d a p p r o a c h h a s t h e r o o t s in p r o g r a m m i n g l a n g u a g e . Its a d v a n t a g e a n d
usefulness for software e n g i n e e r i n g , d a t a m o d e l i n g , i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m a n a l y s i s a n d d e s i g n ,
a n d b u i l d i n g g r a p h i c a l u s e r interfaces a s well a s A I k n o w l e d g e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s h a v e b e e n s u c -
cessfully d e m o n s t r a t e d ( R u m b a u g h e t al., 1991). T h e foregoing t r e n d i n b r o a d a p p l i c a t i o n
16 Li Tong, Chen Shuheng & Feng Shan

of object-oriented technology i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e g e n e r a l i t y of o b j e c t - o r i e n t e d c o n c e p t s m a k e s
it possible t o significantly i n t e g r a t e t h e disciplines of d a t a b a s e m a n a g e m e n t , p r o g r a m m i n g
languages, software engineering, artificial intelligence, m a n a g e m e n t , a n d e c o n o m i c sciences.
T h e p u r p o s e of t h i s section is n o t t o p r o d u c e a r i g o r o u s d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e o b j e c t - o r i e n t e d
a p p r o a c h , b u t r a t h e r t o p r o v i d e s o m e b a s i c c o n c e p t s t h a t a r e useful for e c o n o m i s t s w h o h a v e
s u b s t a n t i a l experience w i t h C G E m o d e l i n g b u t w h o a r e n e w t o t h e field o r o b j e c t - o r i e n t e d
p r o g r a m m i n g a n d k n o w l e d g e - b a s e d s y s t e m s . T h e focus is t o s h o w h o w o b j e c t - o r i e n t e d c o n -
c e p t s c a n represent C G E m o d e l s a n d c a p t u r e t h e s e m a n t i c s of t h e m o d e l i n g p r o c e s s .

2.1 O b j e c t - O r i e n t e d C o n c e p t a n d S d f t w a r e A g e n t Concept

T h e object- oriented a p p r o a c h is a n i n d e p e n d e n t c o n c e p t u a l p r o c e s s of p r o g r a m m i n g l a n g u a g e
u n t i l t h e last stage. T h e basic c o n c e p t s in t h e o b j e c t - o r i e n t e d a p p r o a c h a r e o b j e c t s a n d classes,
message passing, class a n d c o m p o n e n t h i e r a r c h y , a n d i n h e r i t a n c e . U s i n g t h e s e c o n c e p t s , t h e
object-oriented a p p r o a c h i n t e g r a t e s t h e p r i n c i p l e s of a b s t r a c t i o n , e n c a p s u l a t i o n , m o d u l a r i t y ,
a n d hierarchy t o h a n d l e c o m p l e x s y s t e m s . I n o b j e c t - o r i e n t e d s y s t e m s , all r e a l w o r l d e n t i t i e s
are t r e a t e d as t h e objects. E a c h o b j e c t h a s a s t a t e , w h i c h is a set of values of t h e a t t r i b u t e r s
defined for t h e o b j e c t s , b e h a v i o r , w h i c h is r e p r e s e n t e d b y a s s o c i a t e d m e t h o d s for a c c e s s i n g a n d
m a n i p u l a t i n g t h e s t a t e (a set of p r o g r a m s w i t h a well-defined interface for t h e i r i n v o c a t i o n ) ,
a n d a s y s t e m - w i d e u n i q u e identifier. T h e s t a t e a n d b e h a v i o r e n c a p s u l a t e d in a n o b j e c t c a n
b e accessed only by messages s e n t t o t h a t o b j e c t . T h e o b j e c t itself t h e n selects a s u i t a b l e
m e t h o d t o e x e c u t e t h e received m e s s a g e . T h e s e m e s s a g e s c o n s t i t u t e t h e p u b l i c interface w i t h
a n object.

In recent years, t h e c o n c e p t a g e n t is very p o p u l a r in t h e A I field. T h e a g e n t h a s t w o

important meanings:
1) Being a basic c o n c e p t of d i s t r i b u t e d artificial intelligence ( D A I ) ;
2) Being a n e x t e n s i o n of o b j e c t - o r i e n t e d m e t h o d o l o g y of a p p r o a c h ( O O M ) .
In t h e p a p e r , t h e agent (software a g e n t ) is c o n s i d e r e d as a n e x t e n s i o n of O O M . F i r s t ,
let us give a few definitions of t h e k i n d s of a g e n t s . F r o m t h e v i e w p o i n t of software d e s i g n ,
it is t h e m i x t u r e of t h e o b j e c t - o r i e n t e d design, f u n c t i o n - o r i e n t e d d e s i g n a n d k n o w l e d g e - b a s e d
system.

D e f i n i t i o n 1: A g e n t t h a t in our p a p e r m u s t posses t h e c h a r a c t e r s of a c e r t a i n f u n c t i o n ,
object a n d intelligence, i. e., t h e agent is defined as a c e r t a i n f u n c t i o n o b j e c t e m b e d d e d A I .
It consists of d a t a , m e t h o d , a n d t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e m e t h o d o p e r a t i o n (i. e. k n o w l e d g e ) .
F r o m t h e view of software design, it is t h e result of t h e m i x t u r e from o b j e c t - o r i e n t e d d e s i g n ,
function-oriented design a n d artificial intelligence o r k n o w l e d g e - b a s e d s y s t e m . A c c o r d i n g t o
F r e e m a n (1990), it c a n be d e s c r i b e d as

Agent = (M,K,A,I,S,R,G)

w h e r e Μ , Κ, A , I, S, R a n d G indicate m e t h o d , k n o w l e d g e , a t t r i b u t e , inference, s e n d i n g
m e s s a g e , receiving m e s s a g e a n d global knowledge ( e n v i r o n m e n t k n o w l e d g e ) respectively. I t s
s t r u c t u r e is s h o w n in F i g . l .

D e f i n i t i o n 2 : O p e r a t i o n a g e n t is a special a c t i v e a g e n t w h i c h c o n c e r t s o t h e r a g e n t s .
An AI Embedded Object-Oriented Approach for 17

A n o p e r a t i o n a g e n t is a g e n e r a l a g e n t for e x e c u t a b l e software. It can b e viewed as

f u n c t i o n M a i n () in C + 4 - e t c .

Global knowledge
X
Receiving Intelligent interface Sending
Inference machine
message message
Knowledge base

Method

attribute

Fig.l The structure of a software agent (AI object)

D e f i n i t i o n 3 : A g e n t ( A I o b j e c t ) class is a s e t of a g e n t s w i t h t h e s a m e a t t r i b u t i o n a n d
behavior.

2.2 A S o f t w a r e A g e n t P e r s p e c t i v e of t h e C G E Model

A t y p i c a l C G E m o d e l h a s m a n y e l e m e n t s in c o m m o n . T h e y u s u a l l y c o n s i s t of five c o m p o n e n t s
( G i n s b u u r g h a n d R o b i n s o n , 1984):
T h e first is a s e t of e c o n o m i c a g e n t s s u c h a s firms, h o u s e h o l d s , a n d g o v e r n m e n t w h o s e
b e h a v i o r is t o b e a n a l y z e d . E a c h a g e n t h a s a s e t of e n d o w m e n t s t h a t c a n b e u s e d a s p r o d u c t i o n
factors, s u c h a s l a b o r a n d c a p i t a l , a n d a n e c o n o m i c a c c o u n t t h a t r e c o r d s his r e v e n u e s a n d
expenditures.
T h e s e c o n d c o m p o n e n t c o n s i s t s of b e h a v i o r a l r u l e s for t h e s e a g e n t s t h a t reflect t h e i r
a s s u m e d m o t i v a t i o n s u c h as profit m a x i m i z a t i o n for firm anct. u t i l i t y m a x i m i z a t i o n for c o n -
sumers.
T h e t h i r d is a s e t of signals o b s e r v e d b y t h e s e a g e n t s o n w h i c h t h e y m a k e t h e i r d e c i s i o n s ,
such as m a r k e t prices or government rationing q u o t a s .
T h e f o u r t h is t h e i n s t i t u t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e of t h e m o d e l e c o n o m y , w h i c h is t h e r u l e of t h e
| a m e by which t h e various agents interact. For example, perfect c o m p e t i t i o n implies t h a t
each a g e n t is a p r i c e t a k e r a n d t h e p r i c e s a r e flexible.
A n d finally, a s e t of explicit definitions of e q u i l i b r i u m c o n d i t i o n s w h i c h a r e s y s t e m c o n -
s t r a i n t s t h a t m u s t b e satisfied for t h e w h o l e e c o n o m y b u t w h i c h a r e n o t t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t
by e a c h i n d i v i d u a l a g e n t in m a k i n g his d e c i s i o n s . A n e q u i l i b r i u m c a n b e defined a s a set of
signals s u c h t h a t t h e r e s u l t i n g decisions of all a g e n t s j o i n t l y satisfy t h e s y s t e m c o n s t r a i n t s .
T h e signals r e p r e s e n t t h e e q u i l i b r a t i n g v a r i a b l e s of t h e m o d e l . F o r e x a m p l e , in a p e r f e c t l y
c o m p e t i t i v e C G E m o d e l , t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t t h e excess d e m a n d e q u a l s z e r o in all m a r k e t s
is a s y s t e m c o n s t r a i n t t h a t defines t h e n a t u r e of e q u i u b i i u m .
T h e a b o v e five c o m p o n e n t s of t h e C G E m o d e l c a n b e r e p r e s e n t e d b y software a g e n t s . F o r
e x a m p l e , c o n s u m e r s c a n b e r e p r e s e n t e d b y a c o m p o s i t e class h a v i n g a n a t t r i b u t e c o r r e s p o n d -
ing t o different u t i l i t y f u n c t i o n s t h a t reflect h i s / h e r b e h a v i o r r u l e , p l u s a n e n d o w m e n t a n d a
c o n s u m p t i o n q u a n t i t y a t t r i b u t e w h o s e d o m a i n s a r e a v e c t o r of r e a l n u m b e r s . Furthermore,
18 Li Tong, Chen Shuheng & Feng Shan

a m a r k e t can be also r e p r e s e n t e d b y a special software a g e n t h a v i n g t h e signals a n d s y s t e m

c o n s t r a i n t s . For e x a m p l e , in a perfectly c o m p e t i t i v e C G E m o d e l , p r i c e is t h e only s i g n a l . T h e
system c o n s t r a i n s include m a c r o - c l o s u r e r u l e a n d m a r k e t r u l e s e t c . A n a g e n t - o r i e n t e d C G E
model is described as t h e i n t e r a c t i o n r e l a t i o n s a m o n g all of t h e a g e n t s u n d e r t h e c o n s t r a i n of
t h e m a r k e t machine, where m a r k e t is a n o p e r a t i o n e n v i r o n m e n t for t h e a g e n t s e x c e p t g o v e r n -
m e n t . G o v e r n m e n t h a s c e r t a i n ability t o c o n t r o l m a r k e t s , for e x a m p l e , t h e e x o g e n o u s p o l i c y
variable b e y o n d t h e m a r k e t . A n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e , m a r k e t s also influence t h e g o v e r n m e n t
(see t h e Fig.2).

Markets

Factors^, A\ Γ, Ε ) Firms Cosummers

Signals (prices)
Rule (equilibrium, Mcro-closure)
Note L, Labor; K, Capital;
Γ, Land, E, Energy

ROW (Rest of World)

Fig.2 The structure of agent-oriented CGE model

3. THE AGENT-ORIENTED REPRESENTED OF C G E MODELS

3 . 1 A C G E M o d e l s for W o r l d T r a d e

A typical C G E m o d e l w i t h Μ c o n s u m e r s , Ν firms i n c l u d e s g o v e r n m e n t , Μ consumers,

Λ firms (or c o m m o d i t i e s ) a n d R O W , t o t a l Μ -f Ν -Η 2 a g e n t s .
Γ

T h e following is described w i t h a n p s e u d o C-f -f l a n g u a g e :

M A I N () / / O p e r a t i o n A g e n t
{ G O V E R N M E N T Gov; ·
M A R K E T S C-Market;
• · / / Global variables, for e x a m p l e s o m e e x o g e n o u s v a r i a b l e s
Initial (); / / initiate d a t a including c a l i b r a t i o n
S e t - S i m u l a t i o n - P e r i o d s ();

Scenarios-for-Policies (); / / Set policy variables, s p e c i a l t h e variables c o n t r o l l e d b y

Gov R u n - M a r k e t s ();
D i s p l a y - R e p o r t s ();
}
Class M A R K E T S
{
G O V E R N M E N T Gov;
F I R M C - F i r m (JV);
An AI Embedded Object-Oriented Approach for · · 19

C O N S U M E R C-Consumer [M];
R O W TradePartner;
• · / / Market A t t r i b u t e Variables, For example, Various Prices.
M a r k e t s ( G m ) ; / / M a r k e t C o n s t r u c t o r f u n c t i o n , G m is a set of t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e
market operation.
^ M a r k e t s (); / / Destructor function
• · / / M a r k e t Rule: Supplies a n d D e m a n d s equilibrium
'•'II T h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e m a r k e t b e h a v i o r s .
}
Class G O V E R N M E N T

{
Public:
"'II G o v e r n m e n t c o n t r o l v a r i a b l e , for e x a m p l e T a x e s , S u b s i d i e s , a n d Triff e t c .
Private:
• · · / / Government a t t r i b u t e variables, ex., revenues, expenditures, saving etc.
G o v e r n m e n t ( G g ) ; / / C o n s t r u c t o r f u n c t i o n , G g is a s e t of t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e gov-
ernment operation.
^ G o v e r n m e n t (); / / Destructor;
• · · / / T h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e g o v e r n m e n t b e h a v i o r s .
}
Class F I R M S

{
'"II F i r m a t t r i b u t e v a r i a b l e s , e x , D e m a n d for F a c t o r , O u t p u t e t c .
F i r m s ( G p ) ; / / C o n s t r u c t o r f u n c t i o n , G p is a set of t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e firm o p e r a -
tion.
~ F i r m s (); / / D e s t r u c t o r ;
-"II T h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e firm b e h a v i o r s , incl. o b j e c t r u l e (nun C o s t , s.t. Sup-
plies=Demands), t r a d e rules, etc.
}
Class C O N S U M E R S

{
— 'II C o n s u m e r a t t r i b u t e variables, ex, revenues, expenditures, saving etc.
C o n s u m e r s ( G h ) ; / / C o n s t r u c t o r f u n c t i o n , G h is a set of t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e C o n -
sumer (household) operation.
^ C o n s u m e r s (Gh); / / Destructor;
— 'II T h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e c o n s u m e r b e h a v i o r s , incl. r u l e for c o n s u m p t i o n ( m a x U ,
s.t. R e v e n u e c o n s t r a i n t ) , S a v i n g , e t c .
}
class R O W / / t h e R e s t of W o r l d

{
— 'II R O W a t t r i b u t e v a r i a b l e s , ex, R O W t r a n s f e r s t o g o v e r n m e n t , firms, c o n s u m e r s
(or h o u s e h o l d s ) , a n d r e t r o r s e t r a n s f e r , e t c .
20 Li Tong, Chen Shuheng & Feng Shan

R O W ( G w ) ; / / C o n s t r u c t o r function, G w is a set of t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e R O W
operation.
- R O W (); / / D e s t r u c t o r ;
• · / / T h e description of t h e R O W b e h a v i o r r u l e s , e t c .

}
3.2 Toward a n A I E m b e d d e d O b j e c t - O r i e n t e d C G E M o d e l i n g System

T h e above r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of agent in C G E m o d e l s c a n b e i m p l e m e n t e d in a n a g e n t - o r i e n t e d
modeling s y s t e m . Such a s y s t e m applies k n o w l e d g e - b a s e d t e c h n i q u e s t o d y n a m i c a l l y c o n s t r u c t
an C G E m o d e l c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o s e m a n t i c m o d e l s t r u c t u r e p r o v i d e d b y e n d - u s e r ( p o l i c y m a k -
ers). It m a i n t a i n s a n d sores t h e algebraic s t r u c t u r e s of e q u a t i o n s a s t h e c a n o n i c a l o b j e c t s
a n d m a n i p u l a t e s t h e m t o g e n e r a t e C G E m o d e l specification t h a t c a n b e r e p r e s e n t e d in C + - h
p r o g r a m m i n g language. In such a s y s t e m , m o d e l c o n s t r u c t i o n b e g i n s w i t h a s e m a n t i c s t r u c -
t u r e specification. T h e details of how t h i s specification b e i n g o b t a i n e d a r e t h e t a s k of u s e r
interface design. T h e a r c h i t e c t u r e of such a s y s t e m is s h o w n in F i g . 3 .

User interface

Manager agent based on semantic model

Inference engine

Global knowledge base

Agent 1 ^ \ Agent Λ

Fig. 3 Modeling structure based on agents

4 . CONCLUDING REMARKS
T h e idea proposed in t h i s p a p e r initialized a novel r e s e a r c h in a p p l y i n g t h e a g e n t - o r i e n t e d
a p p r o a c h t o t h e C G E modeling. T h e a t t e m p t is t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e useful w a y s of a g e n t - o r i e n t e d
model t o t h e C G E modeling c o m m u n i t y . T i m e shows t h a t t h e a d v a n c e of a p p l i e d g e n e r a l
e q u i l i b r i u m modeling needs t h e c o n c u r r e n t d e v e l o p m e n t of e c o n o m i c t h e o r y , m o d e l i n g m e t h -
o d s , a n d c o m p u t e r s u p p o r t technology. A l t h o u g h t h e c o m p l e t e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of p r o p o s e d
idea is b e y o n d t h e scope of t h e p a p e r , t h e software a g e n t a p p r o a c h o u t l i n e d h e r e p r o v i d e s a
platform for t h r e e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s of a C G E m o d e l t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h e a c h o t h e r . I n s u c h
a s y s t e m , t h e m o d e l developer a n d policy m a k e r will w o r k w i t h familiar o b j e c t s (software
a g e n t ) w i t h prescribed b e h a v i o r from t h e r e a l world, c o n s t r u c t i n g a C G E m o d e l a p p e a r i n g
a n intuitive process r a t h e r t h a n a n a b s t r a c t process. T h i s i n t u i t i v e p r o c e s s needs m o r e u n -
d e r s t a n d i n g of s u b s t a n c e of economics a n d t h e logic u n d e r l y i n g t h e p r o b l e m a t h a n d r a t h e r
than mathematical notation.
An AI Embedded Object-Oriented Approach for · 21

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[1] Freeman H. An Agent-Oriented Programming Architecture for Multi-Agent Constraint Satisfaction Prob-
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Technical Specification. OECD Development Centre Working Papers, Paris, 1994.
[3] Li Tong, Zhai Fan, Feng Shan, et al. On Intelligent Cooperative Systems. Jorunal of Systems Engineering
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[4] Shoham. Agent-Oriented Programming. Technical Report STAN-CS-90-1335, Department of Computer
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[5] Drud, Arne., Hercules-A Modeling System with Knowledge About Economics. Computer Science in
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[7] Klein Michel., Methllie Leif B. Expert Systems: A Decision Support Approach. Add. Wesley, 1990.

Li T o n g received t h e P h . D . d e g r e e of s y s t e m e n g i n e e r i n g from H u a z h o n g U n i v e r s i t y of
Science a n d T e c h n o l o g y in 1997. N o w h e is a s a p o s t d o c t o r a l r e s e a r c h e r in D e p t . of A u t o m a t i c
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application t o decision s u p p o r t systems.

C h e n S h u h e n g received t h e P h . D . d e g r e e of e c o n o m i c s from t h e S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y of N e w
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f o r m a t i o n a n d intelligent decision s u p p o r t s y s t e m s .