Modeling economic forces, power relations, and stock-flow consistency:
a general constrained dynamics approach
by Oliver Richters and Erhard Gloetzl
Abstract: In monetary Stock-Flow Consistent (SFC) models, accounting
identities reduce the number of behavioral functions to avoid an
overdetermined system of equations. We relax this restriction using a
differentialalgebraic equation framework of constrained dynamics.
Agents exert forces on the variables according to their desire, for
instance to gradually improve their utility. The parameter ‘economic
power’ corresponds to their ability to assert their interest. In
analogy to Lagrangian mechanics, system constraints generate additional
constraint forces that lead to unintended dynamics. We exemplify the
procedure using a simple SFC model and reveal its implicit assumptions
about power relations and agents’ preferences.