Network design in games with spillovers

How should an organization be designed in order to provide its members with minimal incentives to defect? And how does the optimal design depend on the type of strategic interaction between defectors and remaining organizational members? This paper addresses such issues in a game theoretic model of cooperation, in which an organization is formally represented by a connected network, and where gains from cooperation are given by a partition function. We show that critical structural features of the organization depend in a clear-cut way on the sign of spillovers. In particular, positive spillovers favor the adoption of dispersed and centralized forms, while negative spillovers favor cohesive and horizontal ones. Moreover, if the organizational form determines all the communication possibilities of members, a highly centralized organization—the star—emerges under positive spillovers, whereas two horizontal architectures—the circle and the complete—emerge under negative spillovers.     

Asset price dynamics with heterogeneous beliefs and local network interactions

In this paper we investigate the effects of network topologies on asset price dynamics. We introduce network communications into a simple asset pricing model with heterogeneous beliefs. The agents may switch between several belief types according to their performance. The performance information is available to the agents only locally through their own experience and the experience of other agents directly connected to them. We model the communications with four commonly considered network topologies: a fully connected network, a regular lattice, a small world, and a random graph. The results show that the network topologies influence asset price dynamics in terms of the regions of stability, amplitudes of fluctuations and statistical properties.     

Network structure,portfolio diversification and systemic risk

We investigate the effect of portfolio diversification on banking systemic risk, where the network effect is incorporated. We analyze three kinds of interbank networks, namely, random networks, small-world networks and scale-free networks. We show that the effect of portfolio diversification on banking systemic risk depends on interbank network structures and shock types. First, systemic risk increases first and then reduces with the increase of the level of portfolio diversification in the case of the individual shock. Second, in the case of the systemic shock, systemic risk reduces with the increases of the level of portfolio diversification. Third, banking systems with scale-free network structures are the most stable, and those with small-world network structures are the most vulnerable.     

Best response dynamics with level-n expectations in two-stage games

This paper analyzes behavior in repeatedly played two-stage games, where players choose actions in both stages according to best replies using level-n expectations about the opponent׳s actions in both stages. Level-n expectations are recursively defined in a way that a player holding level-n expectations correctly predicts the action of an opponent holding level-(n−1) expectations. A general conceptual framework to study such dynamics for two-stage games is developed and it is shown that, contrary to results for single-stage games, the fixed points of the dynamics depend on the level of the expectations. In particular, for level-0 expectation, fixed points correspond to a Nash equilibrium of a simultaneous move version of the game, whereas (under certain conditions) fixed points converge towards the subgame perfect equilibrium of the two-stage game if the level of expectations goes to infinity. The approach is illustrated using a two-stage duopoly game, where firms in the first stage invest in activities reducing their marginal costs and in the second stage engage in Cournot competition. Conditions for local stability of the fixed points are derived for different levels of expectations and it is shown that level-2 expectations are sufficient to move the fixed-point of the dynamics to a close neighborhood of the subgame perfect equilibrium. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that although firms benefit from unilateral increases in the level of expectations, an increase of n by all firms reduces all profits.     

The success and failure of policy-implanted inter-firm network initiatives: motivations,processes and structure

This paper examines the processes and causes of inter-firm network success and failure, defined in terms of the ability of networks to become a sustained and valued form of business activity for their members. The paper examines four different case study network initiatives: (1) a failed informal ‘new entrepreneurs' network’ (2) a successful informal ‘local cluster group’ (3) a failed formal ‘defence contractors' network’ and (4) a successful formal ‘small-firm technology group’. It is shown that networks in business are often consciously developed and maintained by those managing directors who have recognized the importance of cooperative activities for achieving competitive advantage for their companies. The best network support consisted of brokers who are able to mix and overlap the ‘hard’ business and ‘softer’ social interests of participants. The case studies indicate that it is formal groups that are the most potent form of inter-firm network, but that it is through an initially informal structure that they are best facilitated. It is concluded that both economic and social rationalities are at play in the motivation of firms to join networks, and that their success is closely connected to pre-existing commonality between members.     

基于局部网络效应的创新扩散分析

在考虑局部网络效应的基础上,采用微观扩散模型仿真分析创新扩散。研究表明,局部网络效应使得创新潜在采纳个体决策相互影响,从而导致这种采纳者之间微观交互模式所呈现的宏观社会网络结构影响创新扩散的速度和程度。即使某些创新收益非常高,也有可能因为创新潜在采纳个体之间交互模式的影响而导致其扩散最终失败。同时早期创新采纳个体一般具有社会联系比较广泛,自身采纳阈值较高,自身局部网络效应强度较小,更关注创新内在价值等创新特征。     

The dynamics of utility in the neoclassical OLG model

This paper develops a method to study how life-cycle utility of a sequence of cohorts converges to its steady state level in the neoclassical 2-period overlapping generations model. This method allows to characterize utility changes associated with marginal variations in exogenous policy parameters along the entire transition path between two steady states. At the same time, it is not more complicated than a pure steady state analysis. Moreover, it can be applied to economies for which an explicit solution of the transition path is not available.     

Regional integration,international liberalisation and the dynamics of industrial agglomeration

This paper presents a 3-region footloose-entrepreneur new economic geography model. Two symmetric regions are part of an economically integrated area (the Union), while the third region represents an outside trade partner. We explore how the spatial allocation of industrial production and employment within the Union is affected by changes in two aspects of trade liberalisation, regional integration and globalisation, conditional to the skill endowment and the market size of the outside region. Our main contribution pertains to the analysis of the local and global dynamics of the specified factor mobility process. We show that significant parameter ranges exist for which an asymmetric distribution of economic activities is one of the possible long-run outcomes which may allow a smooth transition to agglomeration (in contrast to the NEG typical catastrophic scenario). In addition, we show that multistability is pervasive and that some attractors are Milnor attractors. Both results reinforce the NEG narrative on the importance of initial conditions for the long-run location of industrial activity.     

基于网络治理视角的地方政府购买公共服务研究

本研究将合作博弈引入地方政府购买公共服务研究中,分析地方政府、企业及第三部门各自的目标函数和博弈资源,构建地方政府网络治理主体合作博弈模型。研究表明:各治理主体通过合作可以实现资源互补与共享,获得合作收益,各主体基于各自目标函数追求自身利益最大化的冲动引致了博弈,并在博弈的过程中表现出利益二元化的特征,在权衡自身利益、合作收益以及社会公共利益后不断调整策略;为确保良好的治理效果,提出从监督、信任、利益分配、信息披露与共享四个方面规范治理主体的行为。     

Network dynamics and new ventures in China: A longitudinal study

This study examines the effects of networking skills of entrepreneurs on network dynamics and venture legitimacy. The article is based on the longitudinal survey data of 94 Internet entrepreneurs in Beijing, China. The findings suggest that networking skills of entrepreneurs have positive effects on the structural changes of entrepreneurial networks over time. Further, improvements in networking skills of entrepreneurs are conducive to greater venture legitimacy measured as the number of institutional investors in the new venture. The research and practical implications are discussed.     

廊坊电网保护与故障信息系统子站方案介绍

目前许多厂家都开发了保护与故障信息系统,从总体上各厂家在设计方案上都遵循了统一的标准,但各厂家又有自己的独到之处。文中针对廊坊地区电网的保护及故障信息系统,重点对不同厂家子站系统的硬件组成及网络结构进行了介绍分析。     

Strategic management and public leadership

Abstract

As a new and flatter organization replaces the traditional public organization, it would need more of strategic public management. Key decisions in team production relate to the employment of outcome measures for both monitoring of real activities as well as the reform of the structuring of these activities. Only outcome measures could constitute the starting-point for public sector strategic management. A concept of strategic management for public services must include a theory of public leadership, resulting from the mechanism of credit and commitment on the part of the team providing services. A theory of strategic public management must take into account the specific features of the public sector as well as include the implications of rule of law. Given the criticisms of the rational decision model, a theory of strategic management must pay attention to the lessons from public administration about bounded rationality and the possibility of pathologies or organized foolishness in public organization.     

More neighbors,more efficiency

This paper considers a finite population of agents located within an arbitrary fixed network. Every agent plays a coordination game with his neighbors. If one neighbor's payoff from a specific interaction exceeds his average payoff per interaction, the neighbor is perceived as better performing. Over time agents imitate the strategies of their better performing neighbors; occasionally they make mistakes. Sufficient conditions for emergence of Pareto efficient and risk dominant conventions are provided. The paper also illustrates the main results through relevant examples.     

Local trade networks and spatially persistent unemployment

This paper studies the effects of local trade networks on the spatial distribution of employment in a model that allows for effective demand externalities as well as home bias. It is shown that, if labor can be hired in continuous quantities, then the long run spatial distribution of employment is uniform, and independent of any trade network topology. When labor has binary support, however, local trade networks are found to generate spatial unemployment clusters which can persist indefinitely.     

政策网络的结构与治理:以我国房地产宏观调控政策为例

房地产的宏观调控是我国政府公共管理能力的核心体现,然而,近年来其调控效果并不显著.作为一种新兴的分析工具--政策网络能较好地掌握与处理多元角色参与公共政策制定的议题.因此,本文从政策网络的视角,通过理论研究和案例分析,探讨房地产政策网络的结构特征及其治理机制.研究发现:我国房地产宏观调控的困境关键在于政策网络的开放度太...     

Price and quantity competition among heterogeneous suppliers with two-part pricing: applications to clubs, local public goods, networks, and growth controls

Models of club goods, local public goods, and growth controls appear to have theoretical structures distinct from usual oligopoly models. This article shows, however, that they are special cases of a generalized oligopoly model that incorporates the possibility of two-part pricing and externalities between consumers (either congestion or network externalities). Our generalized two-part pricing model not only serves as a synthesis of a wide range of models but also allows us to obtain several new results on equilibrium prices. Another advantage of our model is that it can be interpreted as a reduced form of more complicated models that have spatial structures. This facilitates extension to the case where firms are heterogeneous and the number of firms is arbitrary.     

地市级部门网络建设和规划

通过分析地市级部门网络布线、网络拓扑结构、网络安全实现和数据存储等方面的需求,依据金华市气象局网络建设经验,对地市级部门网络建设和规划提出一定的建设性意见,对保障各项网络业务的正常运行提供一定参考。     

Micro-interaction dynamics in group decision making: Face games, interaction order and boundary work

Drawing on Goffman's face theory, this paper documents and interprets the micro interaction dynamics underlying group decision making within a consultancy task force. Our analysis suggests that decision making is an instance of strategic face-to-face behavior where individuals seek to influence each other and reach decisions by means of face-work and self-presentation tactics. Moreover, face-to-face behavior generates an ‘interaction order’ that frames the decision making situation and constrains further interactions among decision makers. We discuss the implications that can be drawn from the observed case by relating our findings to the emergent stream of studies on micro-decision making.     

A limit theorem for systems of social interactions

In this paper, we establish a convergence result for equilibria in systems of social interactions with many locally and globally interacting players. Assuming spacial homogeneity and that interactions between different agents are not too strong, we show that equilibria of systems with finitely many players converge to the unique equilibrium of a benchmark system with infinitely many agents. We prove convergence of individual actions and of average behavior. Our results also apply to a class of interaction games.     

The Influence of Network Management and Complexity on Network Performance in Taiwan,Spain and the Netherlands

Abstract

Using survey data of respondents involved in spatial planning projects in Taiwan, Spain and the Netherlands (n = 678), this article examines the influence of network management strategies and complexities (examined with regard to differences in perception of problems and solutions, and unexpected events) on perceived network performance. This theory-driven, empirical research shows that the effect of network management strategies on perceived performance is stronger than the impact of unexpected events or actors’ differences in perceptions of problems and solutions. We find this result in all the three countries. Our model explains 19.1 per cent of the variance in the perceived network performance.