Title: Network formation and social reputation: a theoretical model and simulation analysis

Authors: Tomohiro Hayashida, Ichiro Nishizaki, Hideki Katagiri

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan. ' Faculty of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan. ' Faculty of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan

Abstract: In this paper, we deal with a network formation model where the utility of a player depends not only on the benefit from a network but also on the social reputation of the player. In the model, we examine the stability of networks and show the diversity of structures of the stable networks. Moreover, to complement the theoretical consideration, we perform simulation experiments for analysing the network formation. To do so, we develop a simulation system with artificial adaptive agents with a mechanism for decision making and learning based on neural networks and genetic algorithms.

Keywords: network formation; social reputation; agent-based simulation; modelling; network stability; adaptive agents; decision making; learning; neural networks; genetic algorithms; agent-based systems; multi-agent systems; MAS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKESDP.2010.037495

International Journal of Knowledge Engineering and Soft Data Paradigms, 2010 Vol.2 No.4, pp.349 - 377

Published online: 14 Dec 2010 *

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