Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/101970 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
Nota di Lavoro No. 50.2014
Publisher: 
Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), Milano
Abstract: 
We investigate the role of manipulation in a model of opinion formation. Agents repeatedly communicate with their neighbors in the social network, can exert effort to manipulate the trust of others, and update their opinions about some common issue by taking weighted averages of neighbors' opinions. The incentives to manipulate are given by the agents' preferences. We show that manipulation can modify the trust structure and lead to a connected society. Manipulation fosters opinion leadership, but the manipulated agent may even gain influence on the long-run opinions. Finally, we investigate the tension between information aggregation and spread of misinformation.
Subjects: 
Social networks
Trust
Manipulation
Opinion leadership
Consensus
Wisdom of Crowds
JEL: 
D83
D85
Z13
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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