Network Formation and Disruption - An Experiment. Are efficient networks too complex?

Sonja Brangewitz (), Behnud Mir Djawadi, Angelika Endres () and Britta Hoyer ()
Additional contact information
Sonja Brangewitz: Paderborn University
Angelika Endres: Paderborn University
Britta Hoyer: Paderborn University

No 101, Working Papers CIE from Paderborn University, CIE Center for International Economics

Abstract: We experimentally study the emergence of networks under a known external threat. To be more specific, we deal with the question if subjects in the role of a strategic Designer are able to form safe and efficient networks while facing a strategic Adversary who is going to attack their networks. This investigation relates theoretical predictions by Dziubinski and Goyal (2013) to actual observed behaviour. Varying the costs for protecting nodes, we designed and tested two treatments with different predictions for the equilibrium network. Furthermore, the in fluence of the subjects' farsightedness on their decision- making process was elicited and analysed. We find that while subjects are able to build safe networks in both treatments, equilibrium networks are only built in one of the two treatments. In the other treatment, predominantly safe networks are built but they are not efficient. Additionally, we find that farsightedness -as measured in our experiment- has no in fluence on whether subjects are able to build safe or efficient networks.

Keywords: Networks; Experiment; Network Design; Network Defence; Network Disruption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 20 pages
Date: 2017-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm, nep-exp, nep-gth, nep-pay and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Network Formation and Disruption - An Experiment - Are Efficient Networks too Complex? (2017)
Working Paper: Network Formation and Disruption - An Experiment - Are Efficient Networks too Complex? (2017)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pdn:ciepap:101

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