Nonlinear Difference Equations : Springer : 9781402011160 : 1402011164 : 31 Jan 2003 : It is generally acknowledged that deterministic formulations of dy­ namical phenomena in the social sciences need to be treated differently from similar formulations in the natural sciences. Social science phe­ nomena typically defy precise measurements or data collection that are comparable in accuracy and detail to those in the natural sciences. Con­ sequently, a deterministic model is rarely expected to yield a precise description of the actual phenomenon being modelled. Nevertheless, as may be inferred from a study of the models discussed in this book, the qualitative analysis of deterministic models has an important role to play in understanding the fundamental mechanisms behind social sci­ ence phenomena. The reach of such analysis extends far beyond tech­ nical clarifications of classical theories that were generally expressed in imprecise literary prose. The inherent lack of precise knowledge