Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Paper Series,
Research Institute of Industrial Economics

No 816: Social Networks

Joan de Marti and Yves Zenou ()
Additional contact information
Joan de Marti: Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Postal: and Barcelona GSE, Department of Economics and Business, Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-, 27, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
Yves Zenou: Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN), Postal: and Stockholms University, Department of Economics, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

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

JEL-codes: A14; C72; D85; Z13

31 pages, December 9, 2009

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