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Effects of inequality on a spatial evolutionary public goods game

Author

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  • Jinzhuo Liu

    (Yunnan University
    The Key Laboratory for Software Engineering of Yunnan Province
    The Engineering Research Center of Cyberspace
    Northwestern Polytechnical University)

  • Mao Peng

    (Yunnan University
    The Key Laboratory for Software Engineering of Yunnan Province)

  • Yunchen Peng

    (Yunnan University)

  • Yong Li

    (Yunnan University)

  • Chen Chu

    (Northwestern Polytechnical University
    Yunnan University of Finance and Economics)

  • Xiaoyu Li

    (Northwestern Polytechnical University)

  • Qing Liu

    (Yunnan University
    The Key Laboratory for Software Engineering of Yunnan Province)

Abstract

Over the past decade, inequality has become one of the most complex and troubling challenges in the global economy. Many scientists are determined to eliminate inequality to achieve full cooperation. However, our research shows that not all inequalities hinder cooperation. In this article, we study the effects of inequality by introducing the disassortative mixing of the investment amount and enhancement factor assigned to certain individuals in the public goods game. Compared with the traditional version, we find that cooperation can be effectively promoted by aligned inequality, which means that individuals with the highest (lowest) investment capabilities contribute the greatest (lowest) investment amounts. The promotion of cooperation mainly depends on the heterogeneous contribution ability of players. Specifically, cooperators with high contribution ability can maximize collective benefits, causing cooperators with low contribution ability to form compact clusters and resist invasion by defectors. Our research indicates that the diversity of individual endowment and productivity may have a non-negligible influence on the evolution of cooperation among selfish individuals. Graphic Abstract The frequency of cooperation $$\rho _{c}$$ ρ c as a function of the enhancement factor r for different correlation coefficients.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinzhuo Liu & Mao Peng & Yunchen Peng & Yong Li & Chen Chu & Xiaoyu Li & Qing Liu, 2021. "Effects of inequality on a spatial evolutionary public goods game," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 94(8), pages 1-7, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eurphb:v:94:y:2021:i:8:d:10.1140_epjb_s10051-021-00177-w
    DOI: 10.1140/epjb/s10051-021-00177-w
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    6. Shi, Juan & Liu, Xucheng & Li, Jiqin & Shu, Youqi & Wang, Zhen & Liu, Jinzhuo, 2023. "The role of Far-Sighted agents on the evolution of cooperation in social dilemma," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).

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