SÉMINAIRE DE RECHERCHE EN ÉCONOMIE - GATE LYON SAINT-ÉTIENNE : Frédéric MOISAN

Frédéric Moisan, GATE Lyon Saint-Étienne, présentera un séminaire intitulé : Large Scale Experiments on Networks : A New Platform with Applications.

Résumé / abstract  : This paper presents a new platform for large scale networks experiments in continuous time. The versatility of the platform is illustrated through three experiments : a game of linking, a linking game with public goods, and a linking game with trading and intermediation. Group size ranges from 8 to 100 subjects. These experiments reveal that subjects create sparse networks that are almost always highly efficient. In some experiments the networks are centralized and unequal, while in others they are dispersed and equal. These network structures are in line with theoretical predictions, suggesting that continuous time asynchronous choice facilitates a good match between experimental outcomes and theory. The size of the group has powerful effects on individual investments in linking and effort, on network structure, and on the nature of payoff inequality. Researchers should therefore exercise caution in drawing inferences about behaviour in large scale networks based on data from small group experiments.

Co-autors : Sanjeev Goyal (Cambridge University), Syngjoo Choi (Seoul national University)

Keywords : network formation, large scale experiments, public goods, brokerage

Frederic Moisan