The percolation model of stock market speculation allows an asymmetry (in the return distribution) leading to fast downward crashes and slow upward recovery. We see more small upturns and more intermediate downturns.

The article tries to summarize the common traits in most of the morning lectures of this meeting in La̧dek Zdrój.

We review the possibilities and difficulties for statistical physicists if they apply their methods to biology, economics, or sociology. WARNING: I report opinions, not simulations.

We propose a stochastic model of interactive formation of individual expectations regarding the business climate in an industry. Our model is motivated by a business climate survey conducted since 1960 in Germany by the Ifo-institute (www.ifo.de). In accordance with the data structure of this...

This review deals with several microscopic models of financial markets which have been studied by economists and physicists over the last decade: Kim- Markowitz, Levy-Levy-Solomon, Cont-Bouchaud, Solomon-Weisbuch, Lux-Marchesi, Donangelo-Sneppen and Solomon-Levy-Huang. After an overview of...