Simulation Notes Europe, Volume 26(3), September 2016

A Model of ‘Breaking Bad’: An Economic Model of Drugs and Population Dynamics Predicts how the TV Series Feeds Back to the Drug Market

Simulation Notes Europe SNE 26(3), 2016, 167-174
DOI: 10.11128/sne.26.tn.10346

Abstract

The discusssed stock&flow-model predicts popu¬lation dynamics of Crystal Meth addicts related to the price development of drugs, the society and the market that is affected by the popularity of the TV series ‘Breaking Bad’: The potential impact of the broadcasting of the TV series on the system is tested by using sudden (pulsed) changes of selected flows and rates to reveal sensitivity of selected variables: ‘Addicts’, ‘price relationship’, ‘dealers’ saturation’ and ‘Stock of Crystal Meth’. While consumption, purchase and production show strong responses to such perturbations, other variables like ‘getting_addicted’ and ‘weaning_off’ show only weak responses. These reactions to pulsed changes of model parameters are analysed and their significance is discussed.