The optimal cluster number of FCM in complex economic systems

When modeling the complex economic systems, a target system often need to be categorized into a certain clusters by FCM. The optimal cluster number often is dependent of the selected cluster validity function, but there are so many validity functions proposed, it is difficult to get the optimal cluster number in real target system. A method to get the optimal cluster number of FCM in real systems is proposed: Presets some reasonable cluster numbers, and then chooses a cluster number as the optimal cluster number by some representative validity functions. Testing on the X30 and Bensaid data sets demonstrates the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed method, and finally gives an experiment on Chinapsilas 31 regions according to the level of science and technology (S&T) progress.