Dit proefschrift gaat over de vraag in hoeverre in Nederland de lokale welvaartsontwikkeling wordt bepaald door de gemeentelijke investeringsinspanning. Op project niveau is meestal wel het een en ander bekend over de maatschappelijke effecten, maar over de impact van de totale investeringsinspanning ontbreekt zowel fundamentele als toepasbare kennis. Het is een raadsel dat nog opgelost dient te worden. De doelstelling van dit proefschrift is daaraan een bijdrage te leveren. @en

Departing from the comprehensive reviews carried out in the field, we identify the key challenges that agent-based methodology faces when modeling coupled socio-ecological systems. Focusing primarily on the papers presented in this thematic issue, we review progress in spatial agent-based models along the lines of four methodological challenges: (1) design and parameterizing of agent decision models, (2) verification, validation and sensitivity analysis, (3) integration of socio-demographic, ecological, and biophysical models, and (4) spatial representation. Based on this we critically reflect on the future work that is required to make agent-based modeling widely accepted as a tool to support the real world policy. •Progress of agent-based methodology in modeling coupled socio-ecological systems.•Key methodological challenges for ABM.•Societal issues and critical reflection on the prospects of ABM.@en

Departing from the comprehensive reviews carried out in the field, we identify the key challenges that agent-based methodology faces when modeling coupled socio-ecological systems. Focusing primarily on the papers presented in this thematic issue, we review progress in spatial agent-based models along the lines of four methodological challenges: (1) design and parameterizing of agent decision models, (2) verification, validation and sensitivity analysis, (3) integration of socio-demographic, ecological, and biophysical models, and (4) spatial representation. Based on this we critically reflect on the future work that is required to make agent-based modeling widely accepted as a tool to support the real world policy. •Progress of agent-based methodology in modeling coupled socio-ecological systems.•Key methodological challenges for ABM.•Societal issues and critical reflection on the prospects of ABM.@en

Departing from the comprehensive reviews carried out in the field, we identify the key challenges that agent-based methodology faces when modeling coupled socio-ecological systems. Focusing primarily on the papers presented in this thematic issue, we review progress in spatial agent-based models along the lines of four methodological challenges: (1) design and parameterizing of agent decision models, (2) verification, validation and sensitivity analysis, (3) integration of socio-demographic, ecological, and biophysical models, and (4) spatial representation. Based on this we critically reflect on the future work that is required to make agent-based modeling widely accepted as a tool to support the real world policy. •Progress of agent-based methodology in modeling coupled socio-ecological systems.•Key methodological challenges for ABM.•Societal issues and critical reflection on the prospects of ABM.@en

Departing from the comprehensive reviews carried out in the field, we identify the key challenges that agent-based methodology faces when modeling coupled socio-ecological systems. Focusing primarily on the papers presented in this thematic issue, we review progress in spatial agent-based models along the lines of four methodological challenges: (1) design and parameterizing of agent decision models, (2) verification, validation and sensitivity analysis, (3) integration of socio-demographic, ecological, and biophysical models, and (4) spatial representation. Based on this we critically reflect on the future work that is required to make agent-based modeling widely accepted as a tool to support the real world policy. •Progress of agent-based methodology in modeling coupled socio-ecological systems.•Key methodological challenges for ABM.•Societal issues and critical reflection on the prospects of ABM.@en