Summary

In a given environment, agents interact with each other, imitating, communicating, exchanging, and competing. Based on these heterogeneous modalities of interaction, a variety of socialities may emerge including language and communication, identities, economies, and cultures. ""The Handbook of Research on Agent-Based Societies: Social and Cultural Interactions"" addresses the emergence of societal phenomena in the interactions of systems of agents. Comprising authoritative chapters by numerous international authors, this reference book goes well beyond describing the next generation of multi-agent systems in simulations and system engineering and analyzes existing systems to stimulate the development of new ones. It features: 23 authoritative contributions by over 40 of the world's leading experts on agent-based societies from 7 countries; comprehensive coverage of each specific topic, highlighting recent trends and describing the latest advances in the field; more than 830 references to existing literature and research on agent-based societies; and a compendium of over 260 key terms with detailed definitions. It is organized by topic and indexed, making it a convenient method of reference for all IT/IS scholars and professionals. It includes cross-referencing of key terms, figures, and information pertinent to agent-based societies.