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Published on: October 29, 2016
Percolation threshold determines the optimal population density for public cooperation.
Zhen Wang1, Attila Szolnoki, Matjaž Perc
1School of Physics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.
Summary
Higher population density can foster public cooperation, with optimal levels linked to the percolation threshold. This finding reveals a universal law connecting population density and social prosperity.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary game theory
- Network science
- Social dynamics
Background:
- Global census data correlate population density with social welfare indicators.
- The underlying mechanisms driving this correlation remain largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the impact of population density on public cooperation evolution in structured populations.
- Identify the relationship between optimal population density and network properties.
Main Methods:
- Agent-based modeling of cooperation dynamics on graphs.
- Analysis of the percolation threshold in relation to population density.
- Examination of spatial reciprocity patterns.
Main Results:
- Optimal population density is uniquely determined by the percolation threshold of the host graph.
- Spatial reciprocity is maximized near the percolation threshold.
- A giant cooperative cluster emerges when density is near the percolation threshold, avoiding issues from vacancies or defectors.
Conclusions:
- A universal law links population density to social prosperity through cooperation.
- The percolation threshold serves as a critical indicator for optimal population density in social systems.
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