Social Networks

Joan de Martí Beltran and Yves Zenou

No 4621, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We survey the literature on social networks by putting together the economics, sociological and physics/applied mathematics approaches, showing their similarities and differences. We expose, in particular, the two main ways of modeling network formation. While the physics/applied mathematics approach is capable of reproducing most observed networks, it does not explain why they emerge. On the contrary, the economics approach is very precise in explaining why networks emerge but does a poor job in matching real-world networks. We also analyze behaviors on networks, which take networks as given and focus on the impact of their structure on individuals’ outcomes. Using a game-theoretical framework, we then compare the results with those obtained in sociology.

Keywords: random graph; game theory; centrality measures; network formation; weak and strong ties (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A14 C72 D85 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33 pages
Date: 2009-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-net, nep-soc and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Published - published in: Ian Jarvie and Jesus Zamora-Bonilla (eds.), The SAGE Handbook of the Philosophy of Social Science, London: Sage Publications, 2011.

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https://docs.iza.org/dp4621.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Social Networks (2009)
Working Paper: Social Networks (2009)
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