|
Instructors: Manuel Förster
Event type:
Interactive class
Displayed in timetable as:
Hours per week:
3
Credits:
6,0
Language of instruction:
English
Min. | Max. participants:
- | 45
Comments/contents:
The aim of this course is to give an introduction into the field of social and economic networks.
Many aspects of our lives are governed by network relationships, for instance which job we obtain, which products we buy, or which opinions and beliefs we hold. Therefore, understanding how network relationships impact behavior, which network structures are likely to emerge in society, and why we organize ourselves as we do is important.
The analysis of social and economic networks has become one of the liveliest fields of research in economics as well as in other social sciences. This course introduces the main concepts of network analysis and presents some of the most important ideas developed in network theory. We put an emphasis on economic models of network formation and also discuss extensions of the basic models, including current research.
Learning objectives:
The aim of this course is to
- learn how to formally describe and analyze social and economic networks,
- understand some of the most important ideas developed in network theory, and
- learn how to analyze microeconomic models of network formation and social learning.
Didactic concept:
We mainly follow the textbook "Social and Economic Networks" by Matthew O. Jackson (2008).
Course Outline:
- Introduction
- Representing and measuring networks
- Empirical background on social and economic networks
- Strategic network formation
- Learning in social networks
Literature:
- Easley, D. and Kleinberg, J. (2011): Networks, Crowds, and Markets: Reasoning About a Highly Connected World. Cambridge Univ. Press.
- Goyal, S. (2007): Connections: An Introduction to the Economics of Networks. Princeton Univ. Press.
- Jackson, M.O. (2008): Social and Economic Networks. Princeton Univ. Press.
- Vega-Redondo, F. (2007): Complex Social Networks. Econometric Society Monographs.
- Wasserman, S. and Faust, K. (1994): Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications. Cambridge University Press.
Additional examination information:
Written exam: 90 min.
Bonus for exam: possibility to acquire an upgrade of the exam grade (conditional on pass) by either one or two steps in the grading system.
|
