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Urban characteristics attributable to density-driven tie formation

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Pan

    (Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Gourab Ghoshal

    (Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Present address: Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA)

  • Coco Krumme

    (Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Manuel Cebrian

    (Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    University of California at San Diego
    National Information and Communications Technology Australia)

  • Alex Pentland

    (Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Motivated by empirical evidence on the interplay between geography, population density and societal interaction, we propose a generative process for the evolution of social structure in cities. Our analytical and simulation results predict both super-linear scaling of social-tie density and information contagion as a function of the population. Here we demonstrate that our model provides a robust and accurate fit for the dependency of city characteristics with city-size, ranging from individual-level dyadic interactions (number of acquaintances, volume of communication) to population level variables (contagious disease rates, patenting activity, economic productivity and crime) without the need to appeal to heterogeneity, modularity, specialization or hierarchy.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Pan & Gourab Ghoshal & Coco Krumme & Manuel Cebrian & Alex Pentland, 2013. "Urban characteristics attributable to density-driven tie formation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms2961
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2961
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