Simulation of the decision-making factors in the information society.

It has become apparent recently that building up the information society, which is one of the EU's objectives, calls for active governmental support. Almost all countries have now adopted programmes and plans of action to support or accelerate the transition. Decision-makers devising such a strategy have to take into account the complexity of the economic and social environment and the multiplicity of possible effects. These factors make it significantly more difficult to predict the effects of the various measures taken. The purpose of this research is to design a model that can provide a firmer basis for political decision-making. Applying the model will make it possible to predict the results of measures taken and thereby allow strategic alternatives to be compared with each other.