Seeding a Simple Contagion *
53 Pages Posted: 16 Feb 2022 Last revised: 22 Oct 2024
Date Written: February 2, 2023
Abstract
I propose a method for selecting seeds to maximize contagion. First, fit a random graph model using a coarse categorization of individuals. Next, compute a seed multiplier for each category-this is the average number of new infections a seed generates. Finally, seed the category with the highest multiplier. Relative to existing methods, my approach requires far less granular data, and it consumes less computing power-the problem scales with the number of categories, not the number of individuals. I validate the methodology through simulations using real network data.
Keywords: Seeding, Networks
JEL Classification: D85
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation