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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Simulation and analysis of political interaction in regional systems

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7330287

The Regional Environmental Systems Analysis (RESA) program in the Energy Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been developing a set of analysis techniques to aid planners and decision makers in managing the regional environment. These techniques include models of regional economics, land use, ecology, and public finance. A fifth area of inquiry, political interaction analysis, has been entered in order to tie the RESA models to the political constraints that affect policy formation. A revision of a previously developed base model, the Political Interaction Simulation Program (PISP), has been used to project the political feasibility of alternative actions that are proposed to resolve regional issues. By doing so, the PISP model provides feedback to the RESA planning models as to the likelihood of alternative regional futures. The PISP model is documented in detail. Revisions to the model are outlined in order to place it in a mode which better effects medium-term prediction. An extensive case study of the Tellico Dam controversy is presented as an example of the PISP approach in treating issues that impact upon the regional environmental system.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn. (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
7330287
Report Number(s):
ORNL/RUS-23
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English