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The Stability and Efficiency of Economic and Social Networks

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  • Matthew O. Jackson

    (California Institute of Technology)

Abstract

This paper studies the formation of networks among individuals. The focus is on the compatibility of overall societal welfare with individual incentives to form and sever links. The paper reviews and synthesizes some previous results on the subject, and also provides new results on the existence of pairwise-stable networks and the relationship between pairwise stable and efficient networks in a variety of contexts and under several definitions of efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew O. Jackson, 2002. "The Stability and Efficiency of Economic and Social Networks," Microeconomics 0211011, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpmi:0211011
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Falk Armin & Kosfeld Michael, 2012. "It's all about Connections: Evidence on Network Formation," Review of Network Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 11(3), pages 1-36, September.
    2. Rodrigo J. Harrison & Roberto Munoz, 2003. "Stability and Equilibrium Selection in a Link Formation Game," Game Theory and Information 0306004, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Ana Mauleon & Huasheng Song & Vincent Vannetelbosch, 2010. "Networks of Free Trade Agreements among Heterogeneous Countries," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 12(3), pages 471-500, June.
    4. Huasheng Song & Vincent Vannetelbosch, 2007. "International R&D Collaboration Networks," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 75(6), pages 742-766, December.
    5. Michael Kosfeld, "undated". "Network Experiments," IEW - Working Papers 152, Institute for Empirical Research in Economics - University of Zurich.
    6. Rong, Rong & Houser, Daniel, 2015. "Growing stars: A laboratory analysis of network formation," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 380-394.
    7. Page, Frank Jr. & Wooders, Myrna H. & Kamat, Samir, 2005. "Networks and farsighted stability," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 120(2), pages 257-269, February.
    8. Dutta, Bhaskar & Ghosal, Sayantan & Ray, Debraj, 2005. "Farsighted network formation," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 122(2), pages 143-164, June.
    9. Olivier Tercieux & Vincent Vannetelbosch, 2006. "A characterization of stochastically stable networks," International Journal of Game Theory, Springer;Game Theory Society, vol. 34(3), pages 351-369, October.
    10. Jackson, Matthew O. & Calvo, Antoni, 2002. "Social Networks in Determing Employment and Wages: Patterns, Dynamics, and Inequality," Working Papers 1149, California Institute of Technology, Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences.
    11. Alexander Elbittar & Rodrigo Harrison & Roberto Muñoz, 2014. "Network Structure In A Link Formation Game: An Experimental Study," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 52(4), pages 1341-1363, October.
    12. Hans Haller & Sudipta Sarangi, 2003. "Nash Networks with Heterogeneous Agents," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 337, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    13. Page, Frank H., Jr. & Wooders, Myrna H. & Kamat, Samir, 2004. "Farsightedly Basic Networks," Economic Research Papers 269596, University of Warwick - Department of Economics.
    14. MAULEON, Ana & SEMPERE-MONERRIS, José & VANNETELBOSCH, Vincent J., 2004. "R&D networks among unionized firms," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2004071, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    15. Marco Marini, 2007. "An Overview of Coalition & Network Formation Models for Economic Applications," Working Papers 0712, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Department of Economics, Society & Politics - Scientific Committee - L. Stefanini & G. Travaglini, revised 2007.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    networks; network formation; stability; efficiency; social networks;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A14 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Sociology of Economics
    • C71 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Cooperative Games
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D20 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - General

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