Small-World Formation via Local Information

TL;DR

This paper provides a theoretical analysis of the small-world phenomenon, demonstrating that small-world properties naturally emerge when individuals strategically form links to optimize their social reach.

Contribution

It introduces a model where individuals as greedy agents form links based on local information, explaining the emergence of small-world networks.

Findings

Small-world properties emerge from local link formation strategies.

Strategic link formation leads to short average path lengths.

The model explains the natural occurrence of small-world networks.

Abstract

It has been observed that almost anyone is acquainted with almost anyone else through only a few intermediary links. This has been known as the small-world phenomenon. In this script we investigate this observation from a theoretical stand-point by imagining each individual as a greedy agent. We show that small-world properties emerge naturally when individuals pay for links to manage a pull from the population.