Elements for the Agent-Based Modeling of Slavery Systems

Abstract

This paper introduces formal concepts for the agent-based modeling of slavery systems. The concepts of master-slave economic relationship, slavery-based economic system, slavery-supporting legal system, and slavery-based material agent society are formally defined. A first case study recasts, for material agent societies, North \& Thomas' economic model determining the objective conditions under which it is rational for a society to choose a slavery-based economic system over a free labor-based economic system. A second case study makes use of elements of F. H. Cardoso's study of slavery in the south of Brazil to illustrate the application of the formal concepts introduced in the paper.