There’s a new book out by NYU Professor Bruce Bueno de Mesquita called “The Predictioneer’s Game“.

Bueno de Mesquita combines game theory and computer modeling to make predictions on global events and happenings.  You can read more about his book here.  I’ve read about him before – I think that he’s got a really interesting handle on how people and groups interact with one another…

Just for kicks, here are a few things that he predicts would happen (exerpted from the latest edition of Newsweek magazine):

- If the U.S. doubles its aid to Pakistan this year to $1.5 billion, it would be enough to ensure a civil, secular government that no longer accomodates terrorists.

- By 2012 Iran’s bonyads – charitable trusts that control much of the economy – will wield more political clout than any other faction; a more secular regime will emerge.

- Copenhagen will be a bust, as will its main mission: by 2040 we’ll have given up on regulating carbon emissions.  Global warming will be solved with wind, rain, and solar invention.

- The best path to peace in the Middle East:  make Isreael and the Palestinian Authority share tax revenue from tourism, 60-40, boosting the P.A.’s GDP by 20%.