Showing or telling? Local interaction and organization of behavior

Z. Babutsidze*, R. Cowan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

We present a choice model based on agent interaction. Interaction is modeled as face-to-face communication that takes place on a regular periodic lattice with decision-makers exchanging information only with immediate neighbors. We investigate the long-run (equilibrium) behavior of the resulting system and show that for a large range of initial conditions clustering in economic behavior emerges and persists indefinitely. Unlike many models in the literature, our model allows for the analysis of multi-option environments. Therefore, we add to existing results by deriving the equilibrium distribution of option popularity and thus, implicitly, of market shares. Additionally, the model sheds new light on the emergence of the novel behavior in societies.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)151-181
JournalJournal of Economic Interaction and Coordination
Volume9
Issue number2
Early online date28 Sept 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2014

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