Epidemics and dimensionality in hierarchical networks

Da-Fang Zheng, P.M. Hui, Steffen Trimper and Bo Zheng

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2005, vol. 352, issue 2, 659-668

Abstract: Epidemiological processes are studied within a recently proposed hierarchical network model using the susceptible–infected–refractory dynamics of an epidemic. Within the network model, a population may be characterized by H independent hierarchies or dimensions, each of which consists of groupings of individuals into layers of subgroups. Detailed numerical simulations reveal that for H>1, global spreading results regardless of the degree of homophily of the individuals forming a social circle. For H=1, a transition from global to local spread occurs as the population becomes decomposed into increasingly homophilous groups. Multiple dimensions in classifying individuals (nodes) thus make a society (computer network) highly susceptible to large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases (viruses).

Keywords: Epidemics; Hierarchical networks; Homophily (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:352:y:2005:i:2:p:659-668

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2004.12.049

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