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Power laws and fragility in flow networks
Jesse Shore1, Catherine J Chu2, Matt T Bianchi2
1Boston University School of Management, Department of Information Systems, Boston, MA, United States.
Social Networks
|June 18, 2015
Summary
Flow networks, unlike other skewed networks, collapse due to their interconnectedness. This study reveals how flow networks develop power law degree distributions (PLDD) and their increased vulnerability to failure.
Area of Science:
- Network Science
- Complex Systems
- Ecology
- Economics
Background:
- Economic and ecological networks exhibit unique turbulence and collapse patterns compared to other skewed networks.
- A key characteristic of these networks is the presence of flow between nodes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the consequences of flow in network structures.
- To explain the tendency of flow networks towards power law degree distributions (PLDD).
- To assess the vulnerability of PLDD flow networks to catastrophic failure.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel random graph model for PLDDs that does not rely on a 'rich-get-richer' mechanism.
- Analysis of network structures where nodes are connected by flow.
Main Results:
- Flow networks naturally exhibit power law degree distributions (PLDD) through a self-reinforcing process related to network position.
- PLDD flow networks are significantly more susceptible to catastrophic failure than non-PLDD flow networks.
Conclusions:
- The findings offer insights into the fragility of interconnected economic and ecological systems.
- Understanding these network dynamics is crucial in an era of global interdependence and financial turbulence.
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