Stability and cyclicity in social systems

In social systems at the level of the group, the organization, and the society, certain processes approach either a stationary state or a quasicyclic motion. This article examines the phenomenon as follows: first, simple forms of interactions between quantified socioeconomic macrovariables are introduced, including in particular “cooperative” or “antagonistic” interactions. Second, a dynamic model is set up implying these kinds of interactions between its variables. The model can even be solved analytically. Third, all variants of the two‐variable model are solved explicitly. According to the choice of type of interaction between the variables, the trajectories either approach fixed points or a quasicyclical motion. The latter case includes trajectories spiraling toward a fixed point or toward a limit cycle. An abstract metamodel is then applied to the dynamics of concrete cases by appropriate concrete interpretations of the variables and their dynamics. Four cases from different sectors of the society are discussed explicitly: political systems (interaction between government and people); relations between partners (the dynamics of competing partner relations); economic long‐term cycles (the dynamics of the phases prosperity, recession, depression, recovery); and evolution of firms (for example, the restaurant cycle). Every example corresponds to a certain variant of the metamodel, and the dynamics of the example can be interpreted according to the solution of the metamodel.