Exchange Values and Self-regulation of Exchanges in Multi-agent Systems: The Provisory, Centralized Model

This paper introduces systems of exchange values as tools for the self-regulation of multi-agent systems. Systems of exchange values are defined on the basis of the sociological model of social exchanges proposed by J. Piaget. A model of social control is proposed, where exchange values are used for supporting the regulation of the performance of social exchanges. Social control is structured around two coordinated functions: the evaluation of the current balance of exchange values and the determination of the target equilibrium point for such balance, and the maintenance of the balance of exchange values around the currently determined target equilibrium point. The paper focuses on the second function of social control, introducing a (for the moment, centralized) equilibrium supervisor that solves the problem of keeping the system in a state of equilibrium by making use of a Qualitative Markov Decision Process that uses numerical intervals for the representation of exchange values.