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Strategic hiding and exploration in networks

Author

Listed:
  • Francis Bloch

    (Universite´ Paris 1 and Paris School of Economics)

  • Bhaskar Dutta

    (Ashoka University)

  • Marcin Dziubi´nski

    (Institute of Informatics, University of Warsaw)

Abstract

We propose and study a model of strategic network design and exploration where the hider, subject to a budget constraint restricting the number of links, chooses a connected network and the location of an object. Meanwhile, the seeker, not observing the network and the location of the object, chooses a network exploration strategy starting at a fixed node in the network. The network exploration follows the expanding search paradigm of Alpern and Lidbetter (2013). We obtain a Nash equilibrium and characterize equilibrium payoffs in the case of linking budget allowing for trees only. We also give an upper bound on the expected number of steps needed to find the hider for the case where the linking budget allows for at most one cycle in the network.

Suggested Citation

  • Francis Bloch & Bhaskar Dutta & Marcin Dziubi´nski, 2024. "Strategic hiding and exploration in networks," Working Papers 112, Ashoka University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ash:wpaper:112
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    File URL: https://dp.ashoka.edu.in/ash/wpaper/paper112_0.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Steve Alpern & Thomas Lidbetter, 2013. "Mining Coal or Finding Terrorists: The Expanding Search Paradigm," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 61(2), pages 265-279, April.
    2. Bloch, Francis & Dutta, Bhaskar & Dziubiński, Marcin, 2020. "A game of hide and seek in networks," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    3. Shmuel Gal, 2001. "On the optimality of a simple strategy for searching graphs," International Journal of Game Theory, Springer;Game Theory Society, vol. 29(4), pages 533-542.
    4. Steve Alpern & Thomas Lidbetter, 2019. "Approximate solutions for expanding search games on general networks," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 275(2), pages 259-279, April.
    5. Igor Averbakh & Jordi Pereira, 2012. "The flowtime network construction problem," IISE Transactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(8), pages 681-694.
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    Network exploration;

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