Evaluating global models

A number of major simulation models of global population, environment and economic relationships have been developed and used to assess international resource trends. This paper reviews a number of the models, their forecasts, and limitations, and uses one model - the International Futures Simulation - to illustrate how such a model can be evaluated before it is used to answer specific research questions. The paper focuses on the value of the models in examining and forecasting relationships between environmental change and food production. -Author