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Forecasting Social Conflicts in Africa Using an Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence Model

Author

Listed:
  • Gilian van den Hengel

    (ABNAMRO Bank, Gustav Mahlerlaan 102, 1082 PP Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Philip Hans Franses

    (Econometric Institute, Erasmus School of Economics, POB 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

We propose to view social conflicts in Africa as having similarities with earthquake occurrences and hence to consider the spatial-temporal Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence (ETAS) model. The parameters of this highly parameterized model are estimated through simulated annealing. We consider data for 2012 to 2016 to calibrate the model for four African regions separately, and we consider the data for 2017 to evaluate the forecasts. These forecasts concern the amount of future large events as well as their locations. Examples of our findings are that the model predicts a cluster of large events in the Central Africa region, which was not expected based on past events, and that in particular for East Africa it apparently holds that small conflicts can trigger a larger number of conflicts.

Suggested Citation

  • Gilian van den Hengel & Philip Hans Franses, 2020. "Forecasting Social Conflicts in Africa Using an Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence Model," Forecasting, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-25, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jforec:v:2:y:2020:i:3:p:16-308:d:397675
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yosihiko Ogata, 1998. "Space-Time Point-Process Models for Earthquake Occurrences," Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Springer;The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, vol. 50(2), pages 379-402, June.
    2. Zhuang J. & Ogata Y. & Vere-Jones D., 2002. "Stochastic Declustering of Space-Time Earthquake Occurrences," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 97, pages 369-380, June.
    3. Jack A. Goldstone & Robert H. Bates & David L. Epstein & Ted Robert Gurr & Michael B. Lustik & Monty G. Marshall & Jay Ulfelder & Mark Woodward, 2010. "A Global Model for Forecasting Political Instability," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 54(1), pages 190-208, January.
    4. Beck, Nathaniel & King, Gary & Zeng, Langche, 2000. "Improving Quantitative Studies of International Conflict: A Conjecture," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 94(1), pages 21-35, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Petropoulos, Fotios & Apiletti, Daniele & Assimakopoulos, Vassilios & Babai, Mohamed Zied & Barrow, Devon K. & Ben Taieb, Souhaib & Bergmeir, Christoph & Bessa, Ricardo J. & Bijak, Jakub & Boylan, Joh, 2022. "Forecasting: theory and practice," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 705-871.
      • Fotios Petropoulos & Daniele Apiletti & Vassilios Assimakopoulos & Mohamed Zied Babai & Devon K. Barrow & Souhaib Ben Taieb & Christoph Bergmeir & Ricardo J. Bessa & Jakub Bijak & John E. Boylan & Jet, 2020. "Forecasting: theory and practice," Papers 2012.03854, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2022.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ETAS model; social conflicts; Africa; forecasting;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • F51 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Conflicts; Negotiations; Sanctions
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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