Agent-based Modeling meets the Capability Approach for Human Development: Simulating Homelessness Policy-making

Bibliographic Details
Title:	Agent-based Modeling meets the Capability Approach for Human Development: Simulating Homelessness Policy-making
Authors:	Aguilera, Alba, Osman, Nardine, Curto, Georgina
Publication Year:	2025
Collection:	Computer Science
Subject Terms:	Computer Science - Multiagent Systems
More Details:	The global rise in homelessness calls for urgent and alternative policy solutions. Non-profits and governmental organizations alert about the many challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness (PEH), which include not only the lack of shelter but also the lack of opportunities for personal development. In this context, the capability approach (CA), which underpins the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provides a comprehensive framework to assess inequity in terms of real opportunities. This paper explores how the CA can be combined with agent-based modelling and reinforcement learning. The goals are: (1) implementing the CA as a Markov Decision Process (MDP), (2) building on such MDP to develop a rich decision-making model that accounts for more complex motivators of behaviour, such as values and needs, and (3) developing an agent-based simulation framework that allows to assess alternative policies aiming to expand or restore people's capabilities. The framework is developed in a real case study of health inequity and homelessness, working in collaboration with stakeholders, non-profits and domain experts. The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a novel agent-based simulation framework, rooted in the CA, which can be replicated in a diversity of social contexts to assess policies in a non-invasive way.
Document Type:	Working Paper
Access URL:	http://arxiv.org/abs/2503.18389
Accession Number:	edsarx.2503.18389
Database:	arXiv

FullText	Text: Availability: 0 CustomLinks: – Url: http://arxiv.org/abs/2503.18389 Name: EDS - Arxiv Category: fullText Text: View this record from Arxiv MouseOverText: View this record from Arxiv – Url: https://resolver.ebsco.com/c/xy5jbn/result?sid=EBSCO:edsarx&genre=article&issn=&ISBN=&volume=&issue=&date=20250324&spage=&pages=&title=Agent-based Modeling meets the Capability Approach for Human Development: Simulating Homelessness Policy-making&atitle=Agent-based%20Modeling%20meets%20the%20Capability%20Approach%20for%20Human%20Development%3A%20Simulating%20Homelessness%20Policy-making&aulast=Aguilera%2C%20Alba&id=DOI: Name: Full Text Finder (for New FTF UI) (s8985755) Category: fullText Text: Find It @ SCU Libraries MouseOverText: Find It @ SCU Libraries
Header	DbId: edsarx DbLabel: arXiv An: edsarx.2503.18389 RelevancyScore: 1147 AccessLevel: 3 PubType: Report PubTypeId: report PreciseRelevancyScore: 1146.57946777344
IllustrationInfo
Items	– Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Agent-based Modeling meets the Capability Approach for Human Development: Simulating Homelessness Policy-making – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aguilera%2C+Alba%22">Aguilera, Alba</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Osman%2C+Nardine%22">Osman, Nardine</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Curto%2C+Georgina%22">Curto, Georgina</searchLink> – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Year Group: Date Data: 2025 – Name: Subset Label: Collection Group: HoldingsInfo Data: Computer Science – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Science+-+Multiagent+Systems%22">Computer Science - Multiagent Systems</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Description Group: Ab Data: The global rise in homelessness calls for urgent and alternative policy solutions. Non-profits and governmental organizations alert about the many challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness (PEH), which include not only the lack of shelter but also the lack of opportunities for personal development. In this context, the capability approach (CA), which underpins the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provides a comprehensive framework to assess inequity in terms of real opportunities. This paper explores how the CA can be combined with agent-based modelling and reinforcement learning. The goals are: (1) implementing the CA as a Markov Decision Process (MDP), (2) building on such MDP to develop a rich decision-making model that accounts for more complex motivators of behaviour, such as values and needs, and (3) developing an agent-based simulation framework that allows to assess alternative policies aiming to expand or restore people's capabilities. The framework is developed in a real case study of health inequity and homelessness, working in collaboration with stakeholders, non-profits and domain experts. The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a novel agent-based simulation framework, rooted in the CA, which can be replicated in a diversity of social contexts to assess policies in a non-invasive way. – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Working Paper – Name: URL Label: Access URL Group: URL Data: <link linkTarget="URL" linkTerm="http://arxiv.org/abs/2503.18389" linkWindow="_blank">http://arxiv.org/abs/2503.18389</link> – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: edsarx.2503.18389
PLink	https://login.libproxy.scu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&scope=site&db=edsarx&AN=edsarx.2503.18389
RecordInfo	BibRecord: BibEntity: Subjects: – SubjectFull: Computer Science - Multiagent Systems Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Agent-based Modeling meets the Capability Approach for Human Development: Simulating Homelessness Policy-making Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Aguilera, Alba – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Osman, Nardine – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Curto, Georgina IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 24 M: 03 Type: published Y: 2025
ResultId	1