Architectural innovation: A game-theoretic approach

TL;DR

This paper applies game theory to model Internet architecture as a competitive environment, aiming to explain innovation stagnation and guide towards socially beneficial outcomes.

Contribution

It introduces a game-theoretic framework for analyzing Internet architecture and proposes solutions to foster innovation and social welfare.

Findings

Model explains Internet innovation slump

Identifies evolutionary forces shaping Internet architecture

Suggests strategies for socially desirable outcomes

Abstract

In this paper, we view the Internet under a game-theoretic lens in an effort to explain and overcome the Internet's innovation slump. Game Theory is used to model Internet environments as problems of technological competition toward the end of understanding their emergent phenomena and the evolutionary forces that shape them. However, our results extend beyond understanding the Internet architecture toward helping the Internet population achieve socially desirable outcomes.