System Dynamics as a Tool for Historians: The Role of Software

Abstract

This paper intends to explore the potential of the System Dynamics approach as a new auxiliary science for the historical analysis. To this end a portable DYNAMO-like package, called STEC, has been developed. The paper, first, describes the peculiarities of the System Dynamics method as a tool for historical research, and gives an outline of the project; second, it argues that the scanty diffusion of System Dynamics might be due, among other factors, to the lack of public domain software; third, it asserts that the “old style” data processing (command line interface and batch mode) can prove itself still usable and fruitful; and last, it shows the STEC main features.