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A Noncooperative Model of Contest Network Formation

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  • Kenan Huremovic

    (GREQAM - Groupement de Recherche en Économie Quantitative d'Aix-Marseille - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - ECM - École Centrale de Marseille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

In this paper we study a situation in which agents embedded in a network simultaneously play interrelated bilateral contest games with their neighbors. Spillovers between contests induce complex local and global network effects. We first characterize the equilibrium of the game on a given network. Then we study a network formation model, introducing a novel but intuitive link formation protocol. As links represent negative relationships, link formation is unilateral while link destruction is bilateral. The unique stable network topology is a complete K-partite network with partitions of different sizes. Stable networks exhibit properties that are in line with empirical and theoretical findings from other disciplines.

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  • Kenan Huremovic, 2016. "A Noncooperative Model of Contest Network Formation," Working Papers halshs-01154676, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-01154676
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01154676v2
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    Cited by:

    1. Zenou, Yves & Xu, Jin & Zhou, Junjie, 2019. "Networks in Conflict: A Variational Inequality Approach," CEPR Discussion Papers 13647, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Dziubiński, Marcin & Goyal, Sanjeev & Minarsch, David E.N., 2021. "The strategy of conquest," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    3. Zenou, Yves & Amarasinghe, Ashani & Raschky, Paul & Zhou, Junjie, 2020. "Conflicts in Spatial Networks," CEPR Discussion Papers 14300, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    4. Sun, Xiang & Xu, Jin & Zhou, Junjie, 2023. "Effort discrimination and curvature of contest technology in conflict networks," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 978-991.
    5. Cai, Xinyue & Kimya, Mert, 2023. "Stability of alliance networks," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 401-409.
    6. Xu, Jin & Zenou, Yves & Zhou, Junjie, 2022. "Equilibrium characterization and shock propagation in conflict networks," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    7. Serhat Doğan & Kerim Keskin & Çağrı Sağlam, 2020. "Contests over joint production on networks," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 377-400, April.
    8. Bo Chen & Shanlin Jin, 2023. "Elimination contests with collusive team players," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 25(1), pages 61-89, February.
    9. Cortes-Corrales, Sebastián & Gorny, Paul M., 2018. "Generalising Conflict Networks," MPRA Paper 90001, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    network formation; game on network; contest; structural balance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions

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