Networks

Calendar

Ses #	Topics	Key Dates
1	Introduction to social and economic networks
2	Describing and measuring networks  Directed and undirected graphs, degree, walks, paths, cycles, connectivity, clustering, homophily, centrality.
3	Eigenvector-based centrality measures  Eigenvector centrality, Perron-Frobenius theorem, Katz-Bonacich centrality, Leontief inverse, PageRank.
4	Production networks  Economic fluctuations, Leontief input-out analysis, propagation of shocks.	Problem Set 1 Due
5	Social learning on networks 1: DeGroot learning  DeGroot learning model, consensus, wisdom of crowds.
6	Random graphs Erdos-Renyi graphs, branching processes, degree distributions, threshold functions, phase transitions, connectivity, giant component, configuration model, small worlds model.	Problem Set 2 Due
7	Random graphs (cont.)
8	Random graphs (cont.)	Problem Set 3 Due
9	Diffusion models  Bass model, SIR and SIS models of diffusion.
10	Diffusion models and the Covid-19 Pandemic - Guest lecture by Sara Ellison	Problem Set 4 Due
11	Strategic aspects of diffusion and cascading behavior  Behavioral SIR model, seeding, targeting, threshold models, coordination, cohesiveness, contagion.
12	Strategic aspects of diffusion and cascading behavior (cont.)	Problem Set 5 Due
	Midterm
13	Introduction to game theory  Games, strategies, payoffs, best responses, dominant strategies, Nash equilibrium, mixed strategies.
14	Network traffic and congestion  Braess’ paradox, congestion games, potential games, price of anarchy/stability.
15	Network effects in markets  Externalities, strategic complements and substitutes, path dependence, tipping points, local network effects, key players, segregation, linear best-response games.
16	Network effects in markets (cont.)	Problem Set 6 Due
17	Competitive pricing in networks  Buyer-seller networks, decentralized markets, market-clearing prices, the core, market power.
18	Bargaining and intermediation in networks  Nash bargaining, ultimatum and alternating-offers bargaining, intermediation, bid-ask spreads, structural holes.	Problem Set 7 Due
19	Trust and cooperation in networks  Repeated prisoners’ dilemma, contagion, gossip, social capital, social collateral.	Problem Set 8 Due
20	Advanced topics in network game theory - Guest lecture by Asuman Ozdaglar
21	Auctions  First- and second-price auctions, winner’s curse, sponsored search auctions, Vickrey-Clarke-Groves mechanism.	Problem Set 9 Due
22	Information aggregation  Wisdom of crowds, law of large numbers, Condorcet jury theorem, prediction markets.
23	Social learning on networks 2: Bayesian learning  Herding, information cascades, improvement principle, sacrificial lambs	Problem Set 10 Due
24	Social networks, misinformation, and polarization - Guest lecture by James Siderius