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Social activity and network formation

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    (Department of Economics, University of Cambridge)

Abstract

This paper develops a simple model in which a social hierarchy emerges endogenously when agents form a network for complementary interaction (``activity''). Specifically, we assume that agents are ex ante identical and their best response activity, as well as their value function, increases (strictly) concavely in the total activity of their neighbours in the network. There exists a unique and stable positive activity equilibrium on exogenous networks under mild conditions. When we endogenise network formation, equilibria become strongly structured: more active players have more neighbours, i.e. a higher degree, but tend to sponsor fewer links. Additionally, in strict equilibria agents separate themselves into groups characterised by the symmetric activity of their members. The characteristic activity decreases in group size and the network is a complete multipartite graph.

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  • ,, 2015. "Social activity and network formation," Theoretical Economics, Econometric Society, vol. 10(2), May.
  • Handle: RePEc:the:publsh:1487
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    10. Choi, S & Goyal, S. & Moisan, F., 2019. "Connectors and Influencers," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1935, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    11. Matthew Elliott & Benjamin Golub, 2019. "A Network Approach to Public Goods," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 127(2), pages 730-776.
    12. Choi, S. & Goyal, G. & Moisan, F., 2020. "Large Scale Experiments on Networks: A New Platform with Applications," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2063, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    13. Olaizola Ortega, María Norma & Valenciano Llovera, Federico, 2017. "Efficiency of weighted networks," IKERLANAK info:eu-repo/grantAgreeme, Universidad del País Vasco - Departamento de Fundamentos del Análisis Económico I.
    14. Julia Müller & Thorsten Upmann, 2017. "Eigenvalue Productivity: Measurement of Individual Contributions in Teams," CESifo Working Paper Series 6679, CESifo.
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    17. Deng, Liuchun & Sun, Yufeng, 2017. "Criminal network formation and optimal detection policy: The role of cascade of detection," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 43-63.
    18. Kinateder, Markus & Merlino, Luca Paolo, 2023. "Free riding in networks," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    19. Norma Olaizola & Federico Valenciano, 2020. "Dominance of weighted nested split graph networks in connections models," International Journal of Game Theory, Springer;Game Theory Society, vol. 49(1), pages 75-96, March.
    20. Alan Griffith, 2022. "A continuous model of strong and weak ties," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 24(6), pages 1519-1563, December.
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    22. Emerson Melo, 2018. "A Variational Approach to Network Games," Working Papers 2018.05, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
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    24. Zenou, Yves & Bochet, Olivier & Faure, Mathieu & Long, Yan, 2020. "Perceived Competition in Networks," CEPR Discussion Papers 15582, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    25. Olaizola Ortega, María Norma & Valenciano Llovera, Federico, 2016. "A Marginalist Model of Network Formation," IKERLANAK info:eu-repo/grantAgreeme, Universidad del País Vasco - Departamento de Fundamentos del Análisis Económico I.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Network formation; strategic complementarity; supermodularity; peer effects; social hierarchy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D00 - Microeconomics - - General - - - General
    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation

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