A Computational Laboratory for Evolutionary Trade Networks

This report presents, motivates, and illustrates the use of a computational laboratory for the investigation of evolutionary trade network formation among strategically interacting buyers, sellers, and dealers. The computational laboratory, referred to as the Trade Network Game Laboratory (TNG Lab), is targeted for the Microsoft Windows desktop. The TNG Lab is both modular and extensible and has a clear, easily operated graphical user interface. It permits visualization of the formation and evolution of trade networks by means of run-time animations. Data tables and charts reporting descriptive performance statistics are also provided in real time. The capabilities of the TNG Lab are demonstrated by means of labor market experiments. An automatic installation program for the TNG Lab is available online, as well as TNG Lab tutorials. TNG downloads, tutorials, and research articles can be accessed at: http://www.econ.iastate.edu/tesfatsi/TNGHome.htm