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Updated: Jul 16, 2025

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
Published on: January 19, 2019
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.
Abstract:
We investigate the development of cooperative behavior in networks over time. In our controlled laboratory experiment, subjects can cooperate by sending costly messages that contain valuable information for the receiver or other subjects in the network. Any message sent can increase the chance that subjects find the information they are looking for and consequently their profit. We find that cooperation emerges spontaneously and remains stable over time. In an additional treatment, we provide a non-binding suggestion about who to contact at the beginning of the experiment. We find that subjects partially follow our recommendation, and this increases their own and others' profit. Despite the removal of suggestions, subjects build long-lasting relationships with the suggested contacts.
Supplementary Information:
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41109-023-00588-x.
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