Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/36027 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 4621
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
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.
Subjects: 
Random graph
game theory
centrality measures
network formation
weak and strong ties
JEL: 
A14
C72
D85
Z13
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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