Relative Value

About this model

This diagram simulates a simplistic model of an agricultural market economy focusing on the production, market dynamics, and consumption of two distinct types of agricultural products: apples and oranges. The system starts with two sources that generate apples and oranges, representing their respective production processes. These products are then transferred to their specific market pools labeled "Apples on Market" and "Oranges On Market." From these pools, the resources flow into drains, mimicking the consumption pattern of these agricultural products. The consumption is automatic, indicating the continual demand for these resources.

Furthermore, the diagram incorporates a comparative valuation mechanism through the use of registers labeled "Apple Value in Oranges" and "Orange Value in Apples." These registers calculate the relative values of apples and oranges based on their availability in the market, essentially establishing a dynamic exchange rate between the two commodities. This mechanism is designed to reflect the fundamental economic principle that the value of a commodity is inversely related to its availability. As described in the accompanying text, the relative value and its variance are influenced not only by the direct supply but also by production costs which can alter the supply chain dynamics. The model thus encapsulates a basic yet insightful representation of how supply, demand, and production costs interact within an agricultural market.

This public Machinations diagram, “Relative Value”, was shared in the Machinations Community by Harry Ashton.

You can open the original diagram in the Machinations app, press Play to watch how resources move through it, and change its values to see how the system responds. Machinations is a visual tool for designing, simulating and balancing game economies and other systems, where resources flow through sources, pools, drains, converters and gates.