Arbeitspapier

In Search of Stars: Network Formation among Heterogeneous Agents

This paper reports results from a laboratory experiment on network formation among heterogeneous agents. The experimental design extends the Bala-Goyal (2000) model of network formation with decay and two-way flow of benefits by allowing for agents with lower linking costs or higher benefits to others. Furthermore, agents’ types may be common knowledge or private information. In all treatments, the (efficient) equilibrium network has a “star” structure. With homogeneous agents, equilibrium predictions fail completely. In contrast, with heterogeneous agents stars frequently occur, often with the high-value or low-cost agent in the center. Stars are not born but rather develop: with a high-value agent, the network’s centrality, stability, and efficiency all increase over time. Probit estimations based on best-response behaviour and other-regarding preferences are used to analyze individual linking behavior. Our results suggest that heterogeneity is a major determinant for the predominance of star-like structures in real-life social networks.

Sprache
Englisch

Erschienen in
Series: Nota di Lavoro ; No. 65.2007

Klassifikation
Wirtschaft
Noncooperative Games
Design of Experiments: Laboratory, Group Behavior
Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
Network Formation and Analysis: Theory
Thema
Network Formation
Experiment
Heterogeneity
Private Information
Netzwerk
Soziales Netzwerk
Test
Asymmetrische Information
Theorie

Ereignis
Geistige Schöpfung
(wer)
Ule, Aljaž
Goeree, Jacob K.
Riedl, Arno
Ereignis
Veröffentlichung
(wer)
Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM)
(wo)
Milano
(wann)
2007

Handle
Letzte Aktualisierung
20.09.2024, 08:24 MESZ

Datenpartner

Dieses Objekt wird bereitgestellt von:
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Objekttyp

  • Arbeitspapier

Beteiligte

  • Ule, Aljaž
  • Goeree, Jacob K.
  • Riedl, Arno
  • Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM)

Entstanden

  • 2007

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