Meeting Strangers and Friends of Friends: How Random Are Social Networks?

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 890-915 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew O Jackson ◽  
Brian W Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Dynamic Model ◽  
Stochastic Dominance ◽  
Formation Process ◽  
Network Formation ◽  
Random Network ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Low Degree ◽  
Average Utility ◽  
Link Formation

We present a dynamic model of network formation where nodes find other nodes with whom to form links in two ways: some are found uniformly at random, while others are found by searching locally through the current structure of the network (e.g., meeting friends of friends). This combination of meeting processes results in a spectrum of features exhibited by large social networks, including the presence of more high- and low-degree nodes than when links are formed independently at random, having low distances between nodes in the network, and having high clustering of links on a local level. We fit the model to data from six networks and impute the relative ratio of random to network-based meetings in link formation, which turns out to vary dramatically across applications. We show that as the random/network-based meeting ratio varies, the resulting degree distributions can be ordered in the sense of stochastic dominance, which allows us to infer how the formation process affects average utility in the network. (JEL D85, Z13)

BEHAVIORAL FOUNDATIONS AND EQUILIBRIUM NOTIONS FOR SOCIAL NETWORK FORMATION PROCESSES

2004 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. 77-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
NICOLAS CARAYOL ◽  
PASCALE ROUX
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Formation Process ◽  
Network Formation ◽  
Small World ◽  
Payoff Function ◽  
Formation Processes ◽  
Limiting Distributions ◽  
Stochastically Stable ◽  
Social Network Formation

This paper develops a framework for studying social network formation. Partly built upon a formalism used in theoretical economics, the network formation process we introduce is locally driven by agents who maximize a given individual payoff function. We examine two simple models and observe the limiting distributions of stochastically stable networks. We find that these networks share some of the features observed for social networks. In particular, we find critical values of the parameters for which the selected networks exhibit small world properties.

FROM ASSORTATIVE TO DISSORTATIVE NETWORKS: THE ROLE OF CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS

2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (04) ◽  
pp. 483-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL D. KÖNIG ◽  
CLAUDIO J. TESSONE ◽  
YVES ZENOU
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Dynamic Model ◽  
Network Formation ◽  
Capacity Constraints ◽  
Simple Mechanism ◽  
Shed Light

We consider a dynamic model of network formation where agents form and sever links based on the centrality of their potential partners. We show that the existence of capacity constrains in the amount of links an agent can maintain introduces a transition from dissortative to assortative networks. This effect can shed light on the distinction between technological and social networks as it gives a simple mechanism explaining how and why this transition occurs.

A dynamic model for social networks.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Field, Richard V., ◽  
Hamilton E. Link ◽  
Jacek Skryzalin ◽  
Jeremy D Wendt
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Dynamic Model

Networks

2020 ◽  
pp. 534-562
Author(s):  
Matthew O. Jackson ◽  
Brian W. Rogers ◽  
Yves Zenou
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Labor Markets ◽  
Network Formation ◽  
Labor Market Outcomes ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Market Outcomes

What is the role of social networks in driving persistent differences between races and genders in education and labor market outcomes? What is the role of homophily in such differences? Why is such homophily seen even if it ends up with negative consequences in terms of labor markets? This chapter discusses social network analysis from the perspective of economics. The chapter is organized around the theme of externalities: the effects that one’s behavior has on others’ welfare. Externalities underlie the interdependencies that make networks interesting to social scientists. This chapter discusses network formation, as well as interactions between people’s behaviors within a given network, and the implications in a variety of settings. Finally, the chapter highlights some empirical challenges inherent in the statistical analysis of network-based data.

When Informality Matters: Participatory Security Reform and Mechanisms of Social Embeddedness in Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Françoise Montambeault ◽  
Annabelle Dias Félix
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Social Embeddedness ◽  
Successful Implementation

Abstract What are the conditions underlying successful implementation of participatory security mechanisms? Drawing on the case of Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl and from the notion of social embeddedness, we argue that participatory security reforms that aim to include citizens in defining security priorities allow for better adoption of reforms in practice. Local level reforms are not implemented in a social vacuum but rather in pre-existing social networks that are key to their adoption in practice by citizens. However, not all social networks are equal, nor do they operate in the same manner. In ‘Neza’, it is through existing clientelistic networks and socially embedded local brokers that the redes vecinales were implemented and adopted by citizens, leading to varied reform adoption patterns at the very local level.

Enabling social networks in an R&D organization

2006 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-246
Author(s):  
Tomas Hellström
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Network Formation ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Administrative Unit ◽  
High Level ◽  
Social Network Formation

This paper presents a qualitative study of mechanisms enabling social network formation in the R&D unit of a large technology-based organization. Drawing on interviews with 37 high-level technical and administrative unit members, a number of social network enablers could be discerned, which related to the need for effective location mechanisms, special “enrolment spaces”, and mechanisms for forging contacts. It was also possible to identify a number of higher-order factors for facilitation of network formation, namely hierarchical enablers and communicative and assimilative factors. Based on these results, the paper makes suggestions as to the theoretical and practical significance of social network enabling mechanisms in R&D organizations.

scholarly journals Overchoosing: A Mechanism of Tie-Formation in Social Networks

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasuku Igarashi ◽  
Johank Koskinen
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Formation Process ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Network Data ◽  
Formation Processes ◽  
Friendship Network ◽  
Fundamental Mechanism

We introduce the concept of overchoosing as a fundamental mechanism of tie formation in directed social networks. The parameter represents a tendency for actors to send a lot of ties but receive few nominations back, something which implies the importance of modeling reciprocity violation as a basic tie-formation process. Analyzing large friendship network data (N = 1,575) by the stochastic actor-oriented models revealed that, under controlling for several endogenous tie formation processes, the parameter captured the formation of open triads and substantially improved the goodness of fit of the model to the data.

Feminist and Evolutionary Perspectives of Female-Female Competition, Status Seeking, and Social Network Formation

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurette T. Liesen
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Network Formation ◽  
Female Competition ◽  
Status Seeking ◽  
Social Network Formation ◽  
Evolutionary Perspectives

During the 1980s and 1990s, feminist evolutionists were instrumental in demonstrating that primate females, including girls and women, can be aggressive and seek status within their groups. Building on their insights, researchers from across disciplines have found that females use a variety of direct and indirect tactics as they pursue their reproductive success. To better understand women’s aggression and status seeking, one also must examine their social networks. Women must not only deal with the dynamics within their groups, they also must deal with pressures from other groups. Success in maintaining connections in one’s social network is vital for access to the various resources women need for their own reproductive success and to keep competitors in check. Overall, women’s social networks, while serving both supportive and competitive functions, profoundly impact on the reproductive future of women and especially the survival and future reproductive strategies of their children.

ENDOGENOUS SOCIAL DISTANCING AND CONTAINMENT POLICIES IN SOCIAL NETWORKS

2021 ◽  
Vol 257 ◽  
pp. 101-117
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Adriani ◽  
Dan Ladley
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Network Formation ◽  
Crowding Out ◽  
Policy Intervention ◽  
Negative Externalities ◽  
Formation Theory ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Underlying Network

Can smart containment policies crowd out private efforts at social distancing? We analyse this question from the perspective of network formation theory. We focus in particular on the role of externalities in social distancing choices. We also look at how these choices are affected by factors such as the agents’ risk perception, the speed of the policy intervention, the structure of the underlying network and the presence of strategic complementarities. We argue that crowding out is a problem when the probability that an outbreak may spread undetected is relatively high (either because testing is too infrequent or because tests are highly inaccurate). This is also the case where the choice of relaxing social distancing generates the largest negative externalities. Simulations on a real-world network suggest that crowding out is more likely to occur when, in the absence of interventions, face-to-face contacts are perceived to carry relatively high risk.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document