Public policy analysis using three systems science techniques

A working example of a merger of three system science techniques, simulation, evaluation, and optimization is presented. A system dynamics model of energy production in the United States is used to calculate the effects of various energy policies, while a multiattribute measurement model is used to evaluate those effects. Optimization procedures are used to find the policies that lead to the `best´ performance of the simulation model when judged in multiattribute fashion. Results are presented for both a simulation model that uses over 300 variables and 5 policies and a multiattribute evaluation model with a dozen attributes.