Research Opportunities in Social and Economic Networks

4 Pages Posted: 12 Aug 2011

See all articles by Matthew O. Jackson

Matthew O. Jackson

Stanford University - Department of Economics; Santa Fe Institute

Date Written: September 21, 2010

Abstract

Social network patterns of interaction influence many behaviors including consumption, career choice, employment, investment, voting, hobbies, criminal activity, risk sharing, and even participation in micro-finance. Networks of relationships among firms and political organizations also impact research and development, investment decisions and market activity, international trade patterns, and political alliances. The study of how network structure influences (and is influenced by) economic activity is becoming increasingly important because it is clear that many classical models that abstract away from patterns of interaction leave certain phenomena unexplained. For example, the fact that information about jobs is largely disseminated through social networks has significant implications for patterns of wages, unemployment, and education. Beyond the many economic settings where social structure is critical, the study of social and economic networks can also benefit from an economic perspective. Tools from decision theory and game theory can offer new insight into how behavior is influenced by network structure; and can also be used to analyze network formation. In addition network analysis provides new opportunities and challenges for econometrics, laboratory and field experiments; and they are beginning to shed new light on the impact of social interactions ranging from favor exchange to corruption and economic development.

Suggested Citation

Jackson, Matthew O., Research Opportunities in Social and Economic Networks (September 21, 2010). American Economic Association, Ten Years and Beyond: Economists Answer NSF's Call for Long-Term Research Agendas, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1889305 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1889305

Matthew O. Jackson (Contact Author)

Stanford University - Department of Economics ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.stanford.edu/~jacksonm

Santa Fe Institute

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United States

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