Scale-free networks may not necessarily witness cooperation

TL;DR

This paper challenges the common belief that scale-free networks inherently promote cooperation, showing that similar degree distributions can lead to diverse cooperative behaviors depending on other network features.

Contribution

It demonstrates that degree distribution alone does not determine cooperation levels, highlighting the roles of network structure, clustering, and assortativity.

Findings

Degree sequence alone does not guarantee cooperation.

Network features like clustering influence cooperative behavior.

Hubs are not always crucial for maintaining cooperation.

Abstract

Networks with a scale-free degree distribution are widely thought to promote cooperation in various games. Herein, by studying the well-known prisoner's dilemma game, we demonstrate that this need not necessarily be true. For the very same degree sequence and degree distribution, we present a variety of possible behaviour. We reassess the perceived importance of hubs in a network towards the maintenance of cooperation. We also reevaluate the dependence of cooperation on network clustering and assortativity.