Giant catalytic effect of altruists in Schelling's segregation model

TL;DR

Introducing altruistic agents into Schelling's segregation model significantly improves overall system utility by enabling the transition from suboptimal to optimal equilibrium states, even with a tiny proportion of altruists.

Contribution

This paper demonstrates the catalytic role of altruists in residential segregation models, revealing their impact on system-wide utility and equilibrium outcomes.

Findings

Altruists dramatically increase collective utility.

Even a small number of altruists can shift the system to optimal states.

Altruists facilitate pathways away from suboptimal equilibria.

Abstract

We study the effect of introducing altruistic agents in a Schelling-like model of residential segregation. We find that even an infinitesimal proportion of altruists has dramatic catalytic effects on the collective utility of the system. Altruists provide pathways that move the system away from the suboptimal equilibrium it would reach if the system included only egoist agents, allowing it to reach the optimal steady state.