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The Key Class in Networks

Allouch, Nizar, Bhattacharya, Jayeeta (2025) The Key Class in Networks. European Economic Review, 172 . Article Number 104950. ISSN 0014-2921. (doi:10.1016/j.euroecorev.2025.104950) (KAR id:108396)

Abstract

This paper examines optimal targeting of multiple network players from a new perspective, focusing on classes of players holding similar network positions – and thus fulfilling similar network roles – as captured by the graph theoretic notion of equitable partition. Unlike existing centrality measures, we show that analysing the network game with local payoff complementarities under symmetry brings out new insights about the relative influence of classes of similarly positioned network players on the Nash equilibrium activity. Our analysis introduces two novel class-based centrality measures with broad theoretical and empirical applicability that geometrically characterize the key class whose removal results in the maximal reduction of aggregate and per-capita network activity, respectively.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2025.104950
Uncontrolled keywords: Social and economic networks; Network games; Equitable partition; Centrality measures; Network symmetry
Subjects: H Social Sciences
H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Economics
Funders: University of Kent (https://ror.org/00xkeyj56)
SWORD Depositor: JISC Publications Router
Depositing User: JISC Publications Router
Date Deposited: 22 Jan 2025 16:21 UTC
Last Modified: 07 Feb 2025 15:36 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/108396 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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