Modeling the ‘El Farol Bar Problem’ in NetLogo

Arthur’s ‘El Farol Bar Problem’ (Arthur (1994)) is a metaphor of a complex economic systems’ model based on interaction and it is perfectly suited for the multi-agent simulation framework. It is a limited resource model in which agents are boundedly rational and where no solution can be deduced a priori. In this paper we discuss in particular the implementation of the model in NetLogo, a multi-agent platform introduced by Wilensky (1999). Our aim is to translate Arthur’s model described in natural language into a workable computational agent-based tool. Throughout the process of setting up the tool we discuss the necessary assumptions made for it’s implementation. We also conduct simulations to illustrate the model and to show that the design of the tool is appropriate.