Dynamic competition over social networks

Antoine Mandel and Xavier Venel

European Journal of Operational Research, 2020, vol. 280, issue 2, 597-608

Abstract: We propose an analytical approach to the problem of influence maximization in a social network where two players compete by means of dynamic targeting strategies. We formulate the problem as a two-player zero-sum stochastic game. We prove the existence of the uniform value: if the players are sufficiently patient, both can guarantee the same mean-average opinion without knowing the exact length of the game. Furthermore, we put forward some elements for the characterization of equilibrium strategies. In general, players must implement a trade-off between a forward-looking perspective, according to which they aim to maximize the future spread of their opinion in the network, and a backward-looking perspective, according to which they aim to counteract their opponent’s previous actions. When the influence potential of players is small, we describe an equilibrium through a one-shot game based on eigenvector centrality.

Keywords: Game theory; Social network; Dynamic games; Targeting; Stochastic games (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Dynamic competition over social networks (2020)
Working Paper: Dynamic competition over social networks (2020)
Working Paper: Dynamic competition over social networks (2020)
Working Paper: Dynamic competition over social networks (2017)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ejores:v:280:y:2020:i:2:p:597-608

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2019.07.028

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