A critical review of the social systems models of Jay Forrester

TLDR: Forrester's horizons have expanded with each book, the latest of which explores means to stabilize human activities for global management as mentioned in this paper, but more than that it is an analysis of the technique, the promise, and the problems of system dynamics, especially for urban and global affairs.

Abstract: Professor J. W. Forrester of the Massachussetts Institute of Technology has published three major works-Industrial Dynamics, Urban Dynamics, and World Dynamics-each of which uses simulation modeling to explore the features of the system of concem. The underlying message of each is technocratic: that there is a technique, system dynamics, which facilitates the process of managing complex systems. Forrester's horizons have expanded with each book, the latest of which explores means to stabilize human activities for global management. This review is an analysis of World Dynamics, but more than that it is an analysis of the technique, the promise, and the problems of system dynamics, especially for urban and global affairs; for it is the technique, not the specific results, which is really important. With the publication of World Dynamics, Forrester appears to join the ranks of concerned environmentalists-doomsayers to some-who have warned of a threat to the future of mankind from food shortage, resource depletion, and pollution. The dangers of continuing on our present course are amply illustrated, and recommendations are made to reduce birth rates, rate of industrialization,