Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025
06:48
The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
Published on: January 19, 2019
9.4K
Nudging cooperation among agents in an experimental social network
Gorm Gruner Jensen1, Martin Benedikt Busch2,3, Marco Piovesan4,3
1Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Applied Network Science
|September 15, 2023
Summary
Cooperative behavior in networks emerges spontaneously and remains stable. Providing suggestions to contacts increases profits and fosters long-term relationships, even after suggestions are removed.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Network Science
- Game Theory
Background:
- Cooperation is crucial for societal functioning.
- Understanding the emergence and stability of cooperation in dynamic networks is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spontaneous emergence and stability of cooperative behavior in networks.
- To examine the impact of non-binding suggestions on cooperation and network relationships.
Main Methods:
- Controlled laboratory experiment with subjects.
- Subjects send costly messages containing valuable information.
- Introduction of a non-binding suggestion treatment.
Main Results:
- Cooperation emerged spontaneously and was stable over time.
- Subjects partially followed suggestions, increasing individual and group profits.
- Long-lasting relationships formed with suggested contacts, persisting after suggestion removal.
Conclusions:
- Cooperative behavior can emerge endogenously in networks.
- External suggestions can facilitate cooperation and relationship building.
- Network structures and relationships can persist beyond external guidance.
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