Naïve Learning in Social Networks: Convergence, Influence and Wisdom of Crowds

Arbeitspapier

We study learning and influence in a setting where agents communicate according to an arbitrary social network and naïvely update their beliefs by repeatedly taking weighted averages of their neighbors’ opinions. A focus is on conditions under which beliefs of all agents in large societies converge to the truth, despite their naïve updating. We show that this happens if and only if the influence of the most influential agent in the society is vanishing as the society grows. Using simple examples, we identify two main obstructions which can prevent this. By ruling out these obstructions, we provide general structural conditions on the social network that are sufficient for convergence to truth. In addition, we show how social influence changes when some agents redistribute their trust, and we provide a complete characterization of the social networks for which there is a convergence of beliefs. Finally, we survey some recent structural results on the speed of convergence and relate these to issues of segregation, polarization and propaganda.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Nota di Lavoro ; No. 64.2007

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Network Formation and Analysis: Theory ; Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness ; Sociology of Economics ; Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation; Networks ; Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
• Subject: Social Networks ; Learning ; Diffusion ; Bounded Rationality ; Soziales Netzwerk ; Lernprozess ; Beschränkte Rationalität ; Theorie

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Jackson, Matthew O. ; Golub, Benjamin
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM)
• (where): Milano
• (when): 2007

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/74054
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET