On Rich Clubs of Path-Based Centralities in Networks

TL;DR

This paper investigates the formation and properties of rich centrality clubs (RCCs) in networks, revealing their relation to core-periphery structures and expander graph properties, and demonstrating their applications in information spreading and network resilience.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of RCCs based on shortest path centralities, analyzes their emergence, and proposes algorithms to insert RCCs without disrupting network structure.

Findings

RCCs exist when the network's core-periphery structure has expander-like shells.

RCCs can be used to identify effective seed nodes for spreading.

A modification algorithm can insert RCCs without affecting other network properties.

Abstract

Many scale-free networks exhibit a rich club structure, where high degree vertices form tightly interconnected subgraphs. In this paper, we explore the emergence of rich clubs in the context of shortest path based centrality metrics. We term these subgraphs of connected high closeness or high betweeness vertices as rich centrality clubs (RCC). Our experiments on real world and synthetic networks highlight the inter-relations between RCCs, expander graphs, and the core-periphery structure of the network. We show empirically and theoretically that RCCs exist, if the core-periphery structure of the network is such that each shell is an expander graph, and their density decreases from inner to outer shells. The main contributions of our paper are: (i) we demonstrate that the formation of RCC is related to the core-periphery structure and particularly the expander like properties of each shell, (ii) we show that the RCC property can be used to find effective seed nodes for spreading information and for improving the resilience of the network under perturbation and, finally, (iii) we present a modification algorithm that can insert RCC within networks, while not affecting their other structural properties. Taken together, these contributions present one of the first comprehensive studies of the properties and applications of rich clubs for path based centralities.