Thread: Modelling Population growth

Hi, I'll be brief as, to my shame, I can't remember what area of maths this should fall under despite having graduated with a maths degree 10 years ago...

I am basically setting up a business plan for an online market and I am trying to make some predictions about how it might grow. There will be sellers, selling stuff, at the start and this should attract buyers. The more buyers, I hope, the more sellers as the sellers products are infinitely replicable (they can sell as many as they want of the same thing). Over any period of time, some sellers will leave, as will some buyers.

My question is what variables are most important in modelling this, and how do you go about doing so? Any help very much appreciated.

If this was the wrong section, please point me in the right direction...

Oh, and successful sellers can produce more products if they want, whilst unsuccessful ones will probably stop doing so as there won't be enough money it for them...

If you need any more info, please let me know