Milton Friesen | University of Waterloo, Canada (original) (raw)

Papers by Milton Friesen

Proceedings of the 2020 Conference of The Computational Social Science Society of the Americas, 2021

In this paper, motivated by conceptual and computational considerations, we argue in favor of imp... more In this paper, motivated by conceptual and computational considerations, we argue in favor of improved fidelity of ABMs in relation to the social processes they attempt to model. With ordering and concurrency characteristics of social interactions as our focus, we identify potential for innovations in ABM platforms using two elements: the SPEC framework of social primitives; and ongoing development of SPEC-ABM software platform, highlight relevant aspects of the intersection among conceptual, formal and technical perspectives, using Elixir as the programming language of choice for our implementation efforts.

Urban leaders offer a model for tackling big global problems that nation-states are failing to ad... more Urban leaders offer a model for tackling big global problems that nation-states are failing to address.

The navigation of planning scholarship can be confusing for emerging scholars. I propose that it ... more The navigation of planning scholarship can be confusing for emerging scholars. I propose that it is useful to think about three different emphases that characterize academic planners: those of the broker, the scientist, and the synthesist. These emphases, in turn, have varying degrees and types of academic pertinence and professional implications. The proposed discussion framework may help planning scholars orient their research and planning support activities. Challenge

Journal on Policy and Complex Systems, 2019

Social capital as a subject of formal research is relatively new, although the subject of social ... more Social capital as a subject of formal research is relatively new, although the subject of social structures is not (Aristotle 2012; Tocqueville 2001). Amid significant and wide-ranging academic interest in social capital, agreement on measurement and consensus about the scope of what is included in social capital remains elusive. This need not be a significant worry as science has always proceeded from partial understanding, competing theories, and unclear boundaries (Brody 1970; Chomsky 1996; Serres 1995). There are dozens of varying definitions of social capital, but for this paper, the phrase “social capital” is intended to refer to the invisible network of social ties that enables individual agents to make use of the social resources of their networks,. Social capital is a phenomenon whose effect is significant (Coleman 1988; Kawachi, Kennedy, Lochner, and Prothrow-Stith 1997; Ostrom and Ahn 2003) despite the difficulty of definition and measurement.

The American Sociologist, 2018

The General Social Survey (GSS) has provided significant insight about the state of societies aro... more The General Social Survey (GSS) has provided significant insight about the state of societies around the world through the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP). Although broadly applicable, in this study the context for developing a new social capital survey instrument covers the Canadian GSS since 1985. Questions in the GSS are often used by researchers who are interested in specific questions or themes for use in some form of re-sampling. Given significant social and relational themes, GSS cycles from 1985 to 2013 were reviewed using a social capital framework to produce a new Social Capital GSS survey instrument. A process of vetting and sorting questions led to development of a 41 question instrument that includes 16 demographic and context variables and 25 social network and trust variables. After testing and refinement, the instrument was used with a randomly sampled group across selected East Hamilton Census Tracts that are differentiated by median income and a standard deviation above and below respectively (n = 97).

Berkeley Planning Journal, 2013

Economic inequality in urban settings is a readily observable phenomenon in contemporary cities, ... more Economic inequality in urban settings is a readily observable phenomenon in contemporary cities, but historical research reflects that the problem is not new. In this paper, we argue that there are citizen-level interactions and arrangements that contribute to the stability of a small group of wealthy citizens alongside a high degree of transience in the poor and more populous part of the city. We developed an agent-based model that drew on the dynamics revealed in a study of Hamilton, Ontario (1851–1861) by Michael Katz (1977). Our central hypothesis was that the wealthy developed and have had access to institutional resources that buffered negative externalities whereas the poor did not. Early results suggest that the presence of an entity that can pool individual agent resources contributes to sustained inequality expressed as a Gini coefficient. Our model is based on Epstein and Axtell’s sugarscape models (1996) where a probability function led to proto-institutions that emerged...

Proceedings of the 2019 International Conference of The Computational Social Science Society of the Americas

This research is focused on finding the simplest possible agent-based model called SPECscape (Soc... more This research is focused on finding the simplest possible agent-based model called SPECscape (Social Primitives Experimental Cohort) that can demonstrate the emergence of wealth inequality. Agents feature a simple North-SouthEast West best sugar patch search function within a 2D grid style code environment that allows formation of a proto-institution (common pool resource capability) under certain conditions. A Nearly Orthogonal Latin Hypercube (NOLH) is used to explore the behavior space of the model's dynamics with four distinct sugarscape arrangements and introduction of exogenous shocks at specified stages of the model's evolution. Our results suggest that proto-institutions moderate shocks, are beneficial for agent members, and play an important role in lowering wealth inequality when many institutions are present and increasing wealth inequality when only a few are allowed to form, thereby indicating the presence of such institutions have a significant effect on wealth inequality in a society of agents.

Journal on Policy and Complex Systems

This paper seeks to explore both the current and potential means for evaluating the role that soc... more This paper seeks to explore both the current and potential means for evaluating the role that social capital might yet play in
urban policy and community development. In particular, we will evaluate the possibility of an updated assessment of social
capital measurement in the context of the following key question:
What are the merits of an updated Social Capital Measurement Report for urban policy makers and community development leaders?

Current academic interest in social capital is robust and extensive, ranging across dozens of dis... more Current academic interest in social capital is robust and extensive, ranging across dozens of disciplines from economics to geography to medicine.1 The Web of Science Core Collection (WoS) contains fifty-seven million academic papers, books, conference proceedings, and citations across the social and natural sciences. Within that repository, social capital is well-represented, with more than 9,164 records as searched on November 1, 2014. Navigating this body of research will support scholars, policy-makers, and community leaders who blend research and practice to understand more clearly what social capital is and how it works. The approach is not exhaustive but is substantially illustrative of how widely the social capital concept is invoked. A current review of the Web of Science sources reflects more than 14,000 sources from the repository of 100 million items. Interest in social capital is significant and growing.

In this series of three papers, three postures will be adopted, each one animated by a series of ... more In this series of three papers, three postures will be adopted, each one animated by a series of questions designed to provoke our thinking.

Report 1: Contemporary Cultural Context of Socio-cultural Goods of Religion How are we advancing the understanding of the socio-cultural good of religion—especially Christianity as the dominant faith in North America? How does religion contribute to the well-being of cities? What form do these religious public goods take? What are their shortcomings that would be valuable to address?

Report 2: State of Research and Influence of Socio-cultural Goods of Religion What insights does research provide that could inform people and help shape public relations and policy efforts on behalf of the socio-cultural good of religion? What are the stories that can be told? What do educators, journalists, and cultural influencers need to know? How could this work be undertaken?

Report 3: Future Conditions of the Socio-cultural Goods of Religion Future research, collaboration, and learning need intentional focus and investment. How will this investment become more difficult in the coming years? How will it get easier? What would it look like for religious faith to be seen as a vital contributor to the common good that we depend on? How might the history of religion and the common good inform our future?

What makes a great city and how do we get there?

Despite their unsensational character, the activities of charitable organizations provide meaning... more Despite their unsensational character, the activities of charitable organizations provide meaning, purpose, and belonging amid the dark labyrinths of alienation that characterize our time. We will doubtless continue to fuel our cultural passion for distraction, but the digital bonds that constitute the fuel of distraction are readily dissolved, carry precious little social freight, and are more likely to result in alienation than provide any sort of lasting community. Charities may well be the vital organizing forces that counteract this tendency. Simply observe the office, home, classroom, or trendy café chair if cell signal or Internet connection fails. The resulting paralysis, rage, fear, and dislocation is immediate and substantial. Witness the effect of losing a phone or having it stolen—there is much at stake. The existential crisis effected by such dislocation reflects a challenge for enriched notions of charity—or care for the common good.

Stanford Social Innovation Review, Dec 2013

Berkeley Planning Journal, 2013

Planning scholarship and professional practice roles can be confusing to navigate. I propose that... more Planning scholarship and professional practice roles can be confusing to navigate. I propose that it is useful to think about three different emphases that characterize academic planners: broker, scientist, or synthesist. These in turn have varying degrees of academic or professional emphasis. Within this discussion framework, it is possible to locate a wide range of scholarly and professional roles and functions.

Municipal World, Dec 2013

Municipal leaders are well aware of the physical infrastructure deficit; but, although it seems t... more Municipal leaders are well aware of the physical infrastructure deficit; but, although it seems to be less prominent in our thinking, the social infrastructure of our municipalities is equally vital.

Proceedings of the 2020 Conference of The Computational Social Science Society of the Americas, 2021

Journal on Policy and Complex Systems, 2019

The American Sociologist, 2018

Berkeley Planning Journal, 2013

Proceedings of the 2019 International Conference of The Computational Social Science Society of the Americas

Journal on Policy and Complex Systems

What makes a great city and how do we get there?

Stanford Social Innovation Review, Dec 2013

Berkeley Planning Journal, 2013

Municipal World, Dec 2013

For our recently-formed, Neighbours Community of Practice, Milton lead a discussion on social cap... more For our recently-formed, Neighbours Community of Practice, Milton lead a discussion on social capital covering these areas of the topic: What is social capital? What is the history of social capital? Why is social capital research important? How can social capital be measured?

This is a brief overview talk based on a longer manuscript that explores what complexity and adap... more This is a brief overview talk based on a longer manuscript that explores what complexity and adaptation are, how it applies to leadership, and how team leaders can put insights into practice.

This course provides and in-depth exploration of Transportation Planning. Topics covered will inc... more This course provides and in-depth exploration of Transportation Planning. Topics covered will include fundamentals of transportation systems, the historical evolution of transportation planning, modern approaches to urban and regional transportation planning, and relevant transportation planning methods. Applied analysis emphasizing Canadian urban examples will be undertaken

An introduction to the theoretical principles that influence planning practice. The course will e... more An introduction to the theoretical principles that influence planning practice. The course will examine selected contributions to planning theory and practice. Related issues of professional practice and ethics will be considered. Cities are the most complex physical and social entities that humans have collectively developed. They encompass all aspects of human life and represent the leading edges of our most pressing challenges for the future.

The overall design of this course is intended to favour simplicity as a means of maximizing your understanding. Course readings are clear, organized, and easy to locate. Assignments are direct, relevant to the course, and include a core project that gives you room for creative exploration. This combination is designed to be a strong basis for your professional and career development.