Lecture B1 (2021-01-21): Introduction to Causal Loop Diagrams

In this lecture, we move from mental/qualitative models toward building quantitative modeling tools to do strategic modeling and scenario planning, as described in Chapter 1 of Morecroft (2015). This involves giving a preview of stock-and-flow diagrams (introducing stocks and flows) and then moving into introducing causal loop diagrams (CLD's). Causal loop diagrams provide a graphical accounting of all causal connections in a model of a system and help to identify both negative and positive feedback loops that are informative about likely dynamical modes of behavior.