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Power laws aren't rigid, domain-specific variables create local fluctuations even in models like population or wealth distribution. It's just a general baseline
by soulofmischief 6y ago
Power laws aren't rigid, domain-specific variables create local fluctuations even in models like population or wealth distribution. It's just a general baseline which we can use to model certain characteristics of a system.
- randomsearch 6y agoMaybe. It's often easy to choose a model and squint to make it fit. You have to be very very careful when performing empirical method, it's extremely easy to taint data and end up fitting models that you shouldn't have. It's not enough to simply fit a power law and say "it works" - that's bad science.
- soulofmischief 6y agoIt's more utilitarian than that. The power law is a tool for inquisition, you need to verify your assumptions when possible. If you can't, the power law is one of many models which you can apply to seek insight into a system. A good heuristic for knowing which model to apply is tantamount in absence of a testable environment.