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Word-of-mouth interaction and the organization of behaviour

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Abstract

We present a discrete choice model based on agent interaction. The framework combines the features of two well-known models of word-of-mouthcommunication (Ellison and Fudenberg, 1995 and Bala and Goyal, 2001).Interaction structure is a regular periodic lattice with decision-makers interacting only with immediate neighbours. We investigate the long-runequilibrium) behaviour of the resulting system and show that for a largerange of initial conditions clustering in economic behaviour emerges andpersists inde?nitely. The setup allows for the analysis of multi-option environments. For these environments we derive the distribution of optionpopularity in equilibrium.

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  • Zakaria Babutsidze & Robin Cowan, 2011. "Word-of-mouth interaction and the organization of behaviour," Documents de Travail de l'OFCE 2011-11, Observatoire Francais des Conjonctures Economiques (OFCE).
    • Handle: RePEc:fce:doctra:1111
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    File URL: http://www.ofce.sciences-po.fr/pdf/dtravail/WP2011-11.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    word-of-mouth; inertia; clustering; choice.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

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