diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14faba9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+# Git
+.git
+.gitignore
+
+# Python
+__pycache__
+*.pyc
+*.pyo
+*.pyd
+.Python
+env
+pip-log.txt
+pip-delete-this-directory.txt
+.tox
+.coverage
+.coverage.*
+.cache
+nosetests.xml
+coverage.xml
+*.cover
+*.log
+.git
+.mypy_cache
+.pytest_cache
+.hypothesis
+
+# Virtual environments
+.venv
+venv/
+ENV/
+env/
+.env
+
+# IDE
+.vscode/
+.idea/
+*.swp
+*.swo
+*~
+
+# OS
+.DS_Store
+.DS_Store?
+._*
+.Spotlight-V100
+.Trashes
+ehthumbs.db
+Thumbs.db
+
+# Docker
+Dockerfile
+.dockerignore
+
+# Documentation
+README.md
+*.md
+
+# Qoder IDE
+.qoder/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/DOCKER.md b/DOCKER.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a2ec8a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DOCKER.md
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# Docker Deployment for Markov Economics Simulation
+
+This directory contains Docker configuration files for containerizing the Markov Economics Simulation App.
+
+## Files
+
+- `Dockerfile` - Multi-stage Docker build configuration
+- `docker-compose.yml` - Docker Compose configuration for easy deployment
+- `.dockerignore` - Files to exclude from Docker build context
+
+## Quick Start
+
+### Using Docker Compose (Recommended)
+
+```bash
+# Build and start the application
+docker-compose up --build
+
+# Run in detached mode
+docker-compose up -d --build
+
+# Stop the application
+docker-compose down
+```
+
+### Using Docker directly
+
+```bash
+# Build the image
+docker build -t markov-economics .
+
+# Run the container
+docker run -p 5000:5000 markov-economics
+
+# Run with environment variables
+docker run -p 5000:5000 \
+  -e FLASK_ENV=production \
+  -e FLASK_APP=run.py \
+  markov-economics
+```
+
+## Access
+
+Once running, the application will be available at:
+- Main application: http://localhost:5000
+- Health check: http://localhost:5000/health
+
+## Configuration
+
+### Environment Variables
+
+- `FLASK_ENV` - Flask environment (development/production)
+- `FLASK_APP` - Entry point file (run.py)
+- `PYTHONUNBUFFERED` - Ensure Python output is not buffered
+
+### Ports
+
+- `5000` - Main application port (Flask + SocketIO)
+
+## Health Check
+
+The container includes a health check that verifies the application is responding correctly at `/health`.
+
+## Security
+
+- Runs as non-root user (`appuser`)
+- Uses Python slim base image
+- Excludes development files via `.dockerignore`
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diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c9c930
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+# Use Python 3.12 slim image as base
+FROM python:3.12-slim
+
+# Set working directory
+WORKDIR /app
+
+# Set environment variables
+ENV PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE=1
+ENV PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
+ENV FLASK_APP=run.py
+ENV FLASK_ENV=production
+
+# Install system dependencies
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
+    gcc \
+    && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
+
+# Copy requirements first for better caching
+COPY requirements.txt .
+
+# Install Python dependencies
+RUN pip install --no-cache-dir -r requirements.txt
+
+# Copy the application code
+COPY . .
+
+# Create a non-root user
+RUN adduser --disabled-password --gecos '' appuser && \
+    chown -R appuser:appuser /app
+USER appuser
+
+# Expose the port the app runs on
+EXPOSE 5000
+
+# Health check
+HEALTHCHECK --interval=30s --timeout=3s --start-period=5s --retries=3 \
+    CMD python -c "import requests; requests.get('http://localhost:5000/health', timeout=2)" || exit 1
+
+# Run the application
+CMD ["python", "run.py"]
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diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..12194e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+version: '3.8'
+
+services:
+  markov-economics:
+    build: .
+    ports:
+      - "5000:5000"
+    environment:
+      - FLASK_ENV=production
+      - FLASK_APP=run.py
+      - PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1
+    volumes:
+      # Optional: Mount for persistent data if needed
+      - ./data:/app/data
+    restart: unless-stopped
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD", "python", "-c", "import requests; requests.get('http://localhost:5000/health', timeout=2)"]
+      interval: 30s
+      timeout: 10s
+      retries: 3
+      start_period: 40s
+    networks:
+      - markov-network
+
+networks:
+  markov-network:
+    driver: bridge
+
+volumes:
+  markov-data:
+    driver: local
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/run.py b/run.py
index 9ee2672..d9e06d5 100644
--- a/run.py
+++ b/run.py
@@ -11,4 +11,10 @@ config_name = os.getenv('FLASK_CONFIG', 'development')
 app = create_app(config_name)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    socketio.run(app, debug=True, host='0.0.0.0', port=5000)
\ No newline at end of file
+    debug_mode = os.getenv('FLASK_ENV', 'development') == 'development'
+    
+    # For production deployment, allow unsafe werkzeug or use a proper WSGI server
+    if os.getenv('FLASK_ENV') == 'production':
+        socketio.run(app, debug=False, host='0.0.0.0', port=5000, allow_unsafe_werkzeug=True)
+    else:
+        socketio.run(app, debug=debug_mode, host='0.0.0.0', port=5000)
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