CIF: Small: Networks: Evolution, Learning and Social Norms

University Of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA

Investigators

Abstract

Much of society is organized in networks, be they enterprise, scientific, education, societal, social, economic, etc. This project aims to study how networks evolve, which networks emerge, how information about the individuals in the network affect the evolution and the eventual shape of the network and conversely, how the evolution of the network affect learning about the individuals in the network. Closely related issues are how the evolution and the shape of the network affect the functioning of the network, and what social norms promote the formation and maintenance of well-functioning of networks. This research project will enable us to better understand, monitor, design, operate and secure networks of many kinds. In particular, this research will help design new policies for creating a safer and more creative Internet. A sizeable network science literature studies networks that have already formed; a smaller literature, mainly in microeconomics, studies the formation of networks---but makes heroic assumptions (e.g., homogeneous agents/entities, complete information about other agents) that deviate from reality. Neither the network science literature nor the microeconomics literature takes into account that agents behave strategically in deciding what information to consume, produce and share (in addition to deciding what links to form/maintain/break) and that agents begin with incomplete information about others (i.e., they must learn about others). As a result, neither network science nor microeconomics provides a useful methodology for understanding, predicting and guiding the formation (and evolution) of real networks and the consequences of network formation. The overarching goal of this research project is to develop such a methodology. The research plan will take into account that agents behave strategically and that they begin with incomplete information about each other and thus must learn over time what information to produce and consume, and which connections to form and maintain and which to break. Thus, agents? learning and the network structure coevolve over time. A distinguishing feature of the current project is the application of social norms to understand and promote the evolution and well-functioning of networks.