Evolutionary Dilemmas in a Social Network

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that cooperation can be sustained in social networks through evolutionary game dynamics, contrasting with unstructured populations, and shows stability against defection.

Contribution

It introduces a simulation of evolutionary games on real social networks and reveals high cooperation levels and stability against defectors.

Findings

High cooperation levels achieved in social networks

Cooperation remains stable against invasion by defectors

Contrasts with unstructured population dynamics

Abstract

We simulate the prisoner's dilemma and hawk-dove games on a real social acquaintance network. Using a discrete analogue of replicator dynamics, we show that surprisingly high levels of cooperation can be achieved, contrary to what happens in unstructured mixing populations. Moreover, we empirically show that cooperation in this network is stable with respect to invasion by defectors.