Axelrod's metanorm games on networks
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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
Published on: January 19, 2019
José M Galán1, Maciej M Łatek, Seyed M Mussavi Rizi
1Área de Organización de Empresas, Departamento de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain. jmgalan@ubu.es
Abstract:
Metanorms is a mechanism proposed to promote cooperation in social dilemmas. Recent experimental results show that network structures that underlie social interactions influence the emergence of norms that promote cooperation. We generalize Axelrod's analysis of metanorms dynamics to interactions unfolding on networks through simulation and mathematical modeling. Network topology strongly influences the effectiveness of the metanorms mechanism in establishing cooperation. In particular, we find that average degree, clustering coefficient and the average number of triplets per node play key roles in sustaining or collapsing cooperation.
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