We discuss the intersection of economics and networks.
Does the structure of networks matter? How do beliefs and behaviors spread? Can we use the knowledge of a network to more efficiently achieve our objectives? Ben Golub, assistant professor of economics at Harvard, joins us to discuss his research and thoughts on these issues. We touch on issues regarding identifying “central” individuals, privacy, online trust, and whether beliefs spread through a network eventually converge to the truth.
Books, Papers, and Courses Mentioned:
Social and Economic Networks (Book and Coursera Course) by Matthew O. Jackson
Networks, Crowds, and Markets: Reasoning About a Highly Connected World by David Easley and Jon Kleinberg
How Homophily Affects the Speed of Learning and Best-Response Dynamics by Benjamin Golub and Matthew O. Jackson
The Diffusion of Microfinance by Abhijit Banerjee, Arun G. Chandrasekhar, Esther Duflo, and Matthew O. Jackson
Cow Tipping