everything.study
14.150

Networks

4-0-8 units · Graduate

Highlights common principles that permeate the functioning of diverse technological, economic and social networks. Utilizes three sets of tools for analyzing networks -- random graph models, optimization, and game theory -- to study informational and learning cascades; economic and financial networks; social influence networks; formation of social groups; communication networks and the Internet; consensus and gossiping; spread and control of epidemics; control and use of energy networks; and biological networks. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

Spring 2022

Topics

  • Introduction to social and economic networks
  • Random graphs (cont.)
  • Diffusion models and the Covid-19 Pandemic - Guest lecture by Sara Ellison
  • Strategic aspects of diffusion and cascading behavior (cont.)
  • Midterm
  • Network effects in markets (cont.)
  • Advanced topics in network game theory - Guest lecture by Asuman Ozdaglar
  • Social networks, misinformation, and polarization - Guest lecture by James Siderius

Readings

  • • David Easley and Jon Kleinberg (EK), Networks, Crowds, and Markets: Reasoning about a Highly Connected World , Cambridge University Press. (An excellent textbook at about the level of our course; we will however go somewhat deeper on some topics.)
    Listed reading
  • • Matthew Jackson, Social and Economic Networks , Princeton University Press. (An excellent textbook at a somewhat more advanced level.)
    Listed reading
  • Listed reading
  • [Jackson] = Matthew Jackson, Social and Economic Networks , Princeton University Press. ISBN: 9780691148205. An excellent textbook at a somewhat more advanced level.
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapter 1; [Jackson] Chapter 1
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 13; [Jackson] Chapters 2 and 3
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapter 14
    Listed reading
  • Optional Reading: “Production Networks: A Primer,” Carvalho and Tahbaz-Salehi, Annual Review of Economics , 11:635-663, 2019. Note: This reading is a bit too advanced. You can skim it as you wish.
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [Jackson] Chapter 8.3
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [Jackson] Chapter 4
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapter 21; [Jackson] Chapters 7.1-7.2
    Listed reading
  • Topic: Diffusion models and the Covid-19 Pandemic (g uest lecture by Sara Ellison)
    Listed reading
  • Reading: “An Economist’s Guide to Epidemiology Models of Infectious Disease,” Ellison et al., Journal of Economic Perspectives , 34(4) 79-104, 2020.
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapter 19; [Jackson] Chapter 9.6
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapter 6
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapter 8
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapter 17; [Jackson] Section 9.7 and 10.1-10.2
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapter 10
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapters 11 and 12; [Jackson] Section 10.3
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapters 9 and 15
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapters 22 and 23
    Listed reading
  • Reading: [EK] Chapter 16; [Jackson] Chapter 8.1-8.2
    Listed reading

Prerequisites & course information

Subject meets with 6.3260J, 14.15[J] Prereq: 6.3700 or 14.300 G (Fall) 4-0-8 units

Sources