An interplay model for authorities’ actions and rumor spreading in emergency event

Liang-an Huo, Peiqing Huang and Xing Fang

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2011, vol. 390, issue 20, 3267-3274

Abstract: Rumor spreading influences how rational individuals assess risks and evaluate needs, especially, it affects authorities to make decisions in an emergency-affected environments. Conversely, authorities’ response to emergency will induct public opinions as well. In this paper, we present a simple model to describe the interplay between rumor spreading and authorities’ actions in emergency situation based on utility theory. By drawing from differential equations we found that it is possible to minimize negative social utility of rumor spreading in the control of situation. At the same time, authorities’ proactive actions can improve rumor management in emergency situation and yield positive social utility. Finally, we outline strategies for authorities that can contribute to rumor management in an emergency event.

Keywords: Emergency management; Authorities’ actions; Rumor spreading; Social utility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:390:y:2011:i:20:p:3267-3274

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2011.05.008

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