Information theoretic description of networks

Thomas Wilhelm and Jens Hollunder

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2007, vol. 385, issue 1, 385-396

Abstract: We present a new information theoretic approach for network characterizations. It is developed to describe the general type of networks with n nodes and L directed and weighted links, i.e., it also works for the simpler undirected and unweighted networks. The new information theoretic measures for network characterizations are based on a transmitter–receiver analogy of effluxes and influxes. Based on these measures, we classify networks as either complex or non-complex and as either democracy or dictatorship networks. Directed networks, in particular, are furthermore classified as either information spreading and information collecting networks.

Keywords: Information theory; Complexity; Graph; Network; Network characterization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:385:y:2007:i:1:p:385-396

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2007.06.029

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