Examining Biological Contagion with COVID-19
One class topic I found particularly interesting this year was the idea of epidemic/disease contagion, the rate of transmission across a certain in-contact network, and how it is measured/estimated that a disease will die out after a finite number of steps or spread indefinitely. I wanted to see if this same theory could be applied […]
Game Theory in Online Marketplaces: Navigating the Complex Dynamics of eBay and Amazon
The application of game theory in online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon has revolutionized how sellers and buyers interact, particularly in terms of pricing and reputation management. On Amazon, the intricate dance of pricing is where game theory really comes into play. Tools like Seller Snap utilize game theory to optimize repricing strategies, a crucial […]
Sustainable Practices as Evolutionarily Stable Strategies
One topic I found particularly interesting from Networks 2040 is the concept of evolutionarily stable strategies, or ESS. By definition, if adopted by a population, an ESS resists being overtaken by an alternative strategy due to providing the best benefit when used against itself, making it stable and self-reinforcing. While studying this concept, I felt […]
Using game theory to help a squash player improve their game
Squash is a high-speed, intense racket sport played by two players in a four-walled court. The game involves players taking turns to hit a small, hollow rubber ball onto the front wall, while one can use the other three walls as well. The primary objective is to play the ball in a manner that […]
Social Networks’ Role in Product Adoption
The rise of ChatGPT earlier this year surprised all of us, but the underlying forces driving its popularity are rooted in social networks. I wanted to talk about how brand communities, which are on a smaller scale than social networks, have a significant impact on product adoption. Using network theory, we can see how community […]
History of Nash Equilibrium: Discovery and Use Today
Overview Discovered by American mathematician, John Forbes Nash, Jr., Nash equilibrium is a fundamental concept in game theory that illustrates decision-making in players based on their interactions with others. The main purpose is to optimize a player’s outcome by taking into account other players’ decisions. Nash equilibrium is achieved when neither player—in a two player […]
An Information Cascade Through Reddit
In the era of digitization, the notion of the information cascade is gaining more prominence, and the Reddit online community serves as a captivating illustration. Reddit, an extensive network of forums where individuals exchange news and content, acts as a fertile breeding ground for the dissemination of knowledge. Users’ contributions are subjected to voting, which […]
Networks in Activism
As technology advances, networks and communication continue to evolve and change. The world we experience today is drastically different from the world in which the previous generation grew up. Over the years, the ratio of strong and weak ties that people typically have has shifted. In the past, people generally had a few strong ties, […]
Strong Triadic Close Can Be Dangerous
In the intricate web of social networks, the concept of ‘strong triadic closure’ is a fundamental principle that explains how relationships evolve and solidify. This principle states that if two people have a strong relationship with a mutual friend, they are likely to develop a strong relationship with each other. While this phenomenon fosters community […]
Digital Platforms and Network Effects
I took “Analyzing Digital Platforms” with Professor Michael Maffie, and to my surprise network effects was a huge topic of discussion and revealed to be the foundation of several digital platforms we analyzed. I learned that a platform is a business model that facilitates the exchange of value between two or more user groups, a […]
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