Models and evaluation
Model credibility, model selection, analogy, causal interpretation and the epistemology of simulation.
Massimo Rusconi
Massimo Rusconi
Researcher & Innovation Project Manager
Current positions
- External Affiliate, TISSS Lab
- Teaching Fellow, University of Insubria
- Innovation and Project Manager, INCO Costruzioni Generali
Email
[email protected]
Short bio
My work spans academic research and innovation project management. In academia, I study economic modelling, innovation dynamics, economic methodology, and the epistemology of simulation. In industry, I focus on project coordination, process improvement, and data analysis in construction and real estate.
Interests
- Economic methodology
- Agent-based modelling
- Innovation dynamics
- Philosophy of modelling
Education
- PhDMethods and Models for Economic Decisions
- Postgraduate MasterData Science
- MScEconomics of Innovation and International Business
- BAPhilosophy
Academic
Economic Methodologist and Innovation Economist
Economics and computational modelling are at the core of my research. I study how models and simulations are designed, evaluated, and used to explain complex economic and social phenomena and inform decision-making. My work combines economic methodology and agent-based modelling, with applications to innovation dynamics, knowledge diffusion, model selection, causal interpretation, and model credibility.
I also investigate institutional and algorithmic decision-making, participatory methods, and methodological issues in survey and experimental research. Across these areas, I focus on how assumptions, research design, and modelling choices affect the reliability, interpretation, and practical use of results.
Research Interests
Simulation and innovation
Agent-based modelling, social simulation, innovation dynamics, knowledge production and system learning. I use NetLogo to develop and explore agent-based simulation models.
Institutions and methods
Algorithmic decision-making, participatory methods, and methodological problems in survey and experimental research.
Academic Appointments
Current
June 2025–present
External Affiliate
June 2025–present
Teaching Fellow ("Cultore della Materia")
Previous
February 2026–May 2026
Adjunct Lecturer (teaching contract)
October 2022–June 2025
Guest Researcher
October 2022–November 2024
Visiting Scholar
November 2020–November 2023
Teaching Fellow ("Cultore della Materia")
Education
November 2020–June 2025
PhD in Methods and Models for Economic Decisions
Dissertation title: Essays on Simulation, Analogy, and Economic Methodology in Modeling Innovation and the Evolution of Ideas
- Final evaluation: Excellent, summa cum laude
- Supervisors: Prof. Raffaello Seri (University of Insubria); Prof. Davide Secchi (University of Southern Denmark)
- Jury committee: Prof. Andrea Vezzulli (University of Insubria); Prof. Bruce Edmonds (Centre for Policy Modelling, Manchester Metropolitan University Business School); Prof. John Symons (University of Kansas)
- First assessment: Prof. Jesús Mario Siqueiros-García; Dr. Martin Neumann
March 2019–December 2019
Postgraduate Second-Level Master in Data Science for Economics, Business and Finance
Final report on developing a web scraper for the real-estate sector, including data cleansing and storage.
September 2016–February 2018
Master's Degree in International Business and Economics (Double Degree)
Master's thesis on the impact of automation and machine learning on the labour market, with a focus on the theoretical applicability of the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) framework to technological unemployment.
- First supervisor: Prof. Andreas Pyka
- Second supervisor: Prof. Carlo Santo Brambilla
September 2015–March 2018
Master's Degree in Global Entrepreneurship Economics and Management, specialization in Economics of Innovation (LM-77, Double Degree)
April 2014–August 2014
Erasmus Programme
September 2011–July 2015
Bachelor in Philosophy
Bachelor's thesis on the theodicy of Pavel Florenskij.
- Supervisor: Prof. Piero Coda
Publications
Published and Accepted Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Journal article
2026
Model trustworthiness and modeler responsibility in economic agent-based modeling practices: A meta-analytical approach
Examines credibility and trustworthiness in economic agent-based modelling, emphasising the modeller's responsibility for aligning purposes, targets and modelling strategies. It proposes a meta-analytical framework for reducing model mistargeting and misuse through greater transparency and consistency.
Journal article
2026
Investigating the analytical robustness of the social and behavioural sciences
Journal article
2025
The analogical roots of agent-based modeling in economics and social sciences: The case of innovation dynamics
Develops an analogical framework for evaluating the conceptual adequacy of economic agent-based models across their conceptual, algorithmic and computational layers. The framework is applied to the SKIN and K+S families of innovation models.
Journal article
2025
Investigating conspiracy beliefs: methodological biases and experimental challenges
Reviews methodological biases in research on conspiracy beliefs, focusing on social-desirability effects, survey spillovers and the limitations of explicit self-reported measures. It also examines the conceptual and practical difficulties involved in developing survey-free experimental approaches.
Submitted and revised manuscripts
Revise and resubmit
Revise and resubmit
On the utility of the models: Bridging together the theoretical and analytical sides of model selection
Rusconi, M., & Seri, R.
Revise and resubmit at Journal of Economic Methodology.
Submitted manuscripts
Submitted
Model selection as a multiple-criteria optimization problem
Seri, R., & Rusconi, M.
Submitted to Optimization.
Submitted
Scratching the surface: The use of participatory methods to uncover wicked topics in the light of eco-lab requirements
Rusconi, M., Gagliardi, L., Späth, E., & Seri, R.
Submitted to Journal of Economic Methodology.
Teaching
June 2025–present
Teaching Fellow ("Cultore della Materia")
Teaching and examination support for:
- Econometrics of Competitive and Regulated Markets, MSc in Global Entrepreneurship Economics and Management
- Econometrics for Finance, MSc in Economics, Law and Corporate Finance
- Econometrics and Big Data, BSc in Economics and Management of Innovation and Sustainability
February 2026–May 2026
Adjunct Lecturer (teaching contract)
Course:
- Seminar in Industrial Dynamics and Evolution, Master's Degree Programme in Global Entrepreneurship Economics and Management
November 2020–November 2023
Teaching Fellow ("Cultore della Materia")
Teaching and examination support for:
- Economics of Innovation, MSc in Global Entrepreneurship Economics and Management
Grants and Awards
May 26, 2023
INEM Young Scholar Award 2023
For "Investigating conspiracy beliefs: methodological and experimental challenges."
November 2020–September 2024
PhD Scholarship
Academic Activities
Invited Talks
October 2023
Invited talk
June 2023
Invited talk
Conference Presentations
July 1–4, 2026
International Joseph A. Schumpeter Society Conference
- Rusconi, M., & Seri, R. "Innovation Dynamics under Endogenous Influence: An Agent-Based Modeling Perspective." Presenting author.
May 20–22, 2026
8th International Conference Economic Philosophy
- Rusconi, M., & Seri, R. "On the Causal Interpretation of Agent-Based Economic Models: Epistemic Entitlements and Inferential Use." Presenting author.
- Seri, R., & Rusconi, M. "Model Selection as a decision problem."
April 22–24, 2026
Workshop on Natural Disasters and Labor Market Resilience
- Rusconi, M. "Climate Change and the Labor Market: The Contribution of Agent-Based Modeling." Presenting author.
September 17–19, 2025
International Network for Economic Method 2025
- Rusconi, M., & Seri, R. "On the utility of the models: Bridging together the theoretical and analytical sides of model selection." Presenting author.
- Rusconi, M., & Gagliardi, L. "Scratching the surface: The use of participatory methods to uncover wicked topics in the light of eco-lab requirements." Presenting author.
May 29–31, 2024
7th International Conference Economic Philosophy
- Rusconi, M., Secchi, D., & Seri, R. "Model Trustworthiness and Modeler Responsibility in Economic Agent-Based Modeling practices: a Meta-Analytical approach." Presenting author.
March 8–9, 2024
Economic Methodology: Models, Measurement, and Intervention Conference
- Rusconi, M., Secchi, D., & Seri, R. "Model Trustworthiness and Modeler Responsibility in Economic Agent-Based Modeling practices: a Meta-Analytical approach." Presenting author.
November 30–December 2, 2023
The Science and Art of Simulation Conference 2023
- Rusconi, M., Secchi, D., & Seri, R. "Model Trustworthiness and Modeler Responsibility in Economic Agent-Based Modeling practices: a Meta-Analytical approach." Presenting author.
July 3–5, 2023
International Association of Computing and Philosophy Conference 2023
- Rusconi, M., Secchi, D., & Seri, R. "Understanding the analogical roots of Agent-Based Models in economics and social sciences." Presenting author.
May 23–26, 2023
Annual Modeling and Simulation Conference 2023
- Wurster, D., Späth, E., Luque-Capellas, B., Ahrweiler, P., Rusconi, M., & Siqueiros, J. (WiP). "Using Agent Based Modelling and Participatory Systems Modelling to Create Serious Games with an Artificial Intelligence Simulating Component."
May 24–26, 2023
International Network for Economic Method 2023
- Gagliardi, L., & Rusconi, M. "Investigating conspiracy beliefs: methodological and experimental challenges."
- Rusconi, M., Secchi, D., & Seri, R. "Understanding the analogical roots of Agent-Based Models in economics and social sciences." Presenting author.
September 25–27, 2022
Workshop: Model Evaluation and Causal Search: Empirical and Experimental Approaches
- Rusconi, M. "Computer Simulations as Iterated Analogies: a viable framework for the epistemology of simulation in the social sciences." Presenting author.
September 12–16, 2022
Social Simulation Conference 2022
- Rusconi, M., Secchi, D., & Seri, R. "Computer Simulations as Iterated Analogies: a viable framework for the epistemology of simulation in the social sciences." Presenting author.
Summer Schools and Workshops
June 5–9, 2023
The Bioeconomy Transformation: Science, Economics, Business and Society
July 11–15, 2022
Summer School: Agent-based models in Economics: theory, toolkit and policy laboratories
June 27–July 1, 2022
Summer School: Second Lake Como Summer School on Economic Behaviours: Models, Measurements, and Policies
Associated presentation: "Computer Simulations as Iterated Analogies: a viable framework for the epistemology of simulation in the social sciences."
May 4–6, 2022
Research Workshop: Agent-based Modelling of Political Polarization
Industry
Innovation & Project Management
My industry work focuses on innovation and project management in construction and real estate. I support project coordination, cost monitoring, process improvement, and data-informed decision-making. I also develop automated workflows for collecting, structuring, and analysing real-estate data, improving the efficiency, consistency, and traceability of recurring analytical tasks.
Since March 2026
Current role
I support project coordination, cost monitoring and process-improvement activities, and contribute to data-supported analysis for construction and real-estate projects.
June 2018–September 2020
Earlier experience
I completed a technical apprenticeship focused on maintaining a real-estate dataset through automated data collection, cleaning and storage, while also supporting cost monitoring, invoice tracking and contract-related documentation.
Practice areas
Project and cost monitoring
I support project coordination and cost-monitoring activities, including the organisation of project information and the tracking of invoices and contract-related documentation.
Process and information flows
I contribute to process-improvement activities by examining how operational information is collected, organised and reused across recurring project tasks.
Automated data workflows
I develop repeatable workflows for collecting, cleaning, storing and analysing real-estate data, with the aim of making recurring analyses more efficient, consistent and reusable.
Profile
Skills & Interests
My skills combine methodological reasoning, computational modelling, data analysis, and process-oriented problem solving across academic research and professional work.
Computational methods and tools
Modelling and simulation
NetLogo Advanced
I use NetLogo to develop and explore agent-based simulation models.
Data analysis
Python and R Intermediate
I use Python and R for data preparation, analysis and computational research.
Data and workflow organisation
MongoDB Basic
I use MongoDB and repeatable workflows for collecting, organising and storing data.
Academic writing
LyX / Overleaf Intermediate
I use LyX and Overleaf for academic writing and collaborative manuscript preparation.
Languages
- Italian
- Native speaker
- English
- Fluent in written and spoken English (C1)
- German
- Fluent in written and spoken German (C1)
Further interests
Beyond my academic and professional work, I enjoy engaging with several branches of philosophy, including epistemology, critical theory, systems theory, philosophy of religion and, occasionally, political theory, as well as science and technology studies. My philosophical background lies mainly in the Platonic and Neoplatonic traditions, understood in a broad sense.
Through a rather unusual turn of events, I have also developed an extensive interest in—and knowledge of—microbiology, which I continue to deepen.
That said, my main ambition in life is to spend as much time as possible lying in thermal pools or by the sea, ideally with the composure of a sea otter. Everything else is a secondary achievement.
CV
Curriculum vitae
Public PDF
Open PDFOpen or download the public PDF version of my curriculum vitae.
Contact
Get in touch
For academic collaboration, teaching, research projects or professional enquiries, you can contact me at:
Academic
Research collaboration, teaching and research projects.
Professional / General
Innovation, project coordination, data-analysis and general professional enquiries.