Edge-based reputation promotes cooperation in simplicial complexes

TL;DR

This paper introduces an edge-based reputation mechanism in simplicial complexes, demonstrating that higher-order network structures combined with reputation promote cooperation more effectively than pairwise interactions.

Contribution

It presents a novel reputation mechanism incorporating direct and indirect reputation in higher-order networks, advancing understanding of cooperation dynamics in complex social systems.

Findings

Reputation mechanisms significantly promote cooperation in simplicial complexes.

Direct reputation has a stronger influence than indirect reputation.

Network topology interacts nonlinearly with reputation to shape cooperation outcomes.

Abstract

Understanding how cooperation emerges and persists is a central challenge in the evolutionary dynamics of social and biological systems. Most prior studies have examined cooperation through pairwise interactions, yet real-world interactions often involve groups and higher-order structures. Reputation is a key mechanism for guiding strategic behavior in such contexts, but its role in higher-order networks remains underexplored. In this study, we introduce an edge-based reputation mechanism, incorporating both direct and indirect reputation, to investigate the evolution of cooperation in simplicial complexes. Our results show that coupling reputation mechanisms with higher-order network structures strongly promotes cooperation, with direct reputation exerting a stronger influence than indirect reputation. Moreover, we reveal a nonlinear interplay between network topology and reputation mechanisms, highlighting how multi-level structures shape collective outcomes. These findings provide a novel theoretical framework for understanding cooperation in complex social systems.