People-appropriate policy models require new mathematical tools (I am not a number)

In this paper we argue (1) that new kinds of models and modeling techniques are needed to address the difficult public policy problems we all currently face, and (2) that new mathematical methods are required to support the new kinds of models and modeling techniques that are needed. We believe that proposed policy solutions have often failed in the past because of modeling deficiencies, and that policy creation should take place at the level of models, not just shouting and hand-waving. The mathematics underlying those models should be appropriate to the problem at hand, not vice versa (this is a failing of much of the current modeling, and an explanation of why modeling has such a bad reputation in policy circles). We believe that that means we have to make up some new mathematics to address the problem, instead of making the problem and data fit the mathematics we already have. In this paper we describe our progress and prospects in the invention of new mathematical methods for appropriate modeling of policy problems.