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Conjoining uncooperative societies facilitates evolution of cooperation

Author

Listed:
  • Babak Fotouhi

    (Harvard University
    Harvard University)

  • Naghmeh Momeni

    (Harvard University
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management)

  • Benjamin Allen

    (Harvard University
    Emmanuel College
    Harvard University)

  • Martin A. Nowak

    (Harvard University
    Harvard University
    Harvard University)

Abstract

Social structure affects the emergence and maintenance of cooperation. Here, we study the evolutionary dynamics of cooperation in fragmented societies, and show that conjoining segregated cooperation-inhibiting groups, if done properly, rescues the fate of collective cooperation. We highlight the essential role of intergroup ties, which sew the patches of the social network together and facilitate cooperation. We point out several examples of this phenomenon in actual settings. We explore random and non-random graphs, as well as empirical networks. In many cases, we find a marked reduction of the critical benefit-to-cost ratio needed for sustaining cooperation. Our finding gives hope that the increasing worldwide connectivity, if managed properly, can promote global cooperation.

Suggested Citation

  • Babak Fotouhi & Naghmeh Momeni & Benjamin Allen & Martin A. Nowak, 2018. "Conjoining uncooperative societies facilitates evolution of cooperation," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 2(7), pages 492-499, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:2:y:2018:i:7:d:10.1038_s41562-018-0368-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-018-0368-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Xiaoyang & Chen, Tong & Chen, Qiao & Li, Xueya, 2020. "Will you cooperate in case the payoff can be guaranteed?," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    2. Benjamin Allen & Christine Sample & Robert Jencks & James Withers & Patricia Steinhagen & Lori Brizuela & Joshua Kolodny & Darren Parke & Gabor Lippner & Yulia A Dementieva, 2020. "Transient amplifiers of selection and reducers of fixation for death-Birth updating on graphs," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(1), pages 1-20, January.
    3. Jun Qian & Tongda Zhang & Xiao Sun & Yueting Chai, 2023. "The coordination of collective and individual solutions in risk-resistant scenarios," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 96(2), pages 1-15, February.

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