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An Agent-Based Model of Centralized Institutions, Social Network Technology, and Revolution

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  • Michael D Makowsky
  • Jared Rubin

Abstract

This paper sheds light on the general mechanisms underlying large-scale social and institutional change. We employ an agent-based model to test the impact of authority centralization and social network technology on preference falsification and institutional change. We find that preference falsification is increasing with centralization and decreasing with social network range. This leads to greater cascades of preference revelation and thus more institutional change in highly centralized societies and this effect is exacerbated at greater social network ranges. An empirical analysis confirms the connections that we find between institutional centralization, social radius, preference falsification, and institutional change.

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  • Michael D Makowsky & Jared Rubin, 2013. "An Agent-Based Model of Centralized Institutions, Social Network Technology, and Revolution," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0080380
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080380
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    Cited by:

    1. Rubin, Jared, 2014. "Centralized institutions and cascades," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 340-357.
    2. Fan, Jijian & Friedman, Daniel & Gair, Jonathan & Iyer, Sriya & Redlicki, Bartosz & Velu, Chander, 2021. "A simulation study of how religious fundamentalism takes root," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 465-481.
    3. Makowsky, Michael D. & Smaldino, Paul E., 2016. "The evolution of power and the divergence of cooperative norms," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 126(PA), pages 75-88.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation
    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government

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