The global attractivity character of nonlinear higher order difference equations of the form is investigated when g is dominated by an interval scalar map. Some basic properties of the interval map are obtained and used to prove new global attractivity criteria for the above equation with no monotonicity restrictions on g. Our results are applied to many models from mathematical biology and economy. The derived global attractivity criteria of these models are either new or improve substantially known ones.

For a family of difference equations where and is continuous and decreasing, we find sufficient conditions for the convergence of all solutions to the unique positive equilibrium. In particular, we improve, up to our knowledge, all previous results on the global asymptotic stability of the equilibrium in the particular cases of the discrete Mackey–Glass and Lasota–Wazewska models in blood-cells production.