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arXiv:cond-mat/0001432cond-mat.stat-mech

Statistical mechanics of money

Adrian Dragulescu, Victor M. Yakovenko

Abstract

In a closed economic system, money is conserved. Thus, by analogy with energy, the equilibrium probability distribution of money must follow the exponential Gibbs law characterized by an effective temperature equal to the average amount of money per economic agent. We demonstrate how the Gibbs distribution emerges in computer simulations of economic models. Then we consider a thermal machine, in which the difference of temperatures allows one to extract a monetary profit. We also discuss the role of debt, and models with broken time-reversal symmetry for which the Gibbs law does not hold.

arXiv comments
7 pages, 5 figures, RevTeX. V.4: final version accepted to Eur. Phys. J. B: few stylistic revisions and additional references
Journal reference
Eur. Phys. J. B 17, 723 (2000)
DOI
doi:10.1007/s100510070114
Subjects
cond-mat.stat-mechStatistical Mechanics q-fin.GNGeneral Finance

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Linked by 2 identifiable commenters in 2 comments across 2 threads, from Oct 2018 to Dec 2022. Found in 1 HN submission from Apr 2019 to Apr 2019. Open submission discussions.

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  1. macOS Command Line 1 comment
    • Yes, that's my point. It's another market, and while markets have a lot of utility they also tend towards bimodal distributions which disproportionately reward a very successful and visible participants while disproportionately exploiting a much larger group. A pure market…

      anigbrowlView on HNParent context

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