Networks and Behavior

• How does network structure impact behavior?

• Simple infections, contagion - diffusion

• Opinions are being formed, informations being processed - learning

  • How do people process information? How does information flow? What happens in terms of forming opinions?

• Choices, decisions - games on networks

S-Shape Adoption

• Diffusion over time and space

  • Griliches economic story: variation in cost effectiveness by geography

• Initial adopters

  • Who are they? High degree? Innovators?

• Increase in speed

  • Word of mouth, observations of neighbors

• Eventual slowdown

  • Saturation

Questions

• Extent of diffusion?

• How does it depend on the particulars of the process as well as the network?

• Time patterns? S-shape?

• Welfare analysis?