Environmental Science
Agent-Based Modeling of Residential Segregation Dynamics
Quick fact
In 1971, economist Thomas Schelling used a simple checkerboard model with coins to show that if people prefer to have at least one-third of their neighbors like themselves, the final pattern becomes almost completely segregated—even though no individual desires total segregation.
Why this is interesting
Imagine moving to a neighborhood where you'd be happy even if only a third of your neighbors were like you. Would you expect that neighborhood to end up highly segregated?