Universität Wien

040164 UK Networks: Theory and Applications (MA) (2013W)

8.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 4 - Wirtschaftswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work

non-compulsory course for Master students
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 02.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 07.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 09.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 14.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 16.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 21.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 23.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 28.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 30.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 04.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 06.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 11.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 13.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 18.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 20.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 25.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 27.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 02.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 04.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 09.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 11.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 16.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 18.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 08.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 13.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 15.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 20.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 22.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Monday 27.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 1 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 29.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course will be split into two parts. The first part is a series of lectures and tutorials
on the analytic modelling of networks and games played on networks. The second part is presentations by students of the selected papers (the list of topics will be discussed in class).

The first part of the course will begin with an overview of social and economic networks, and the embeddedness of economic activity. We then will examine how to describe and measure networks as well as empirical observations about network structure. Next, we will examine models of how networks form, including random network models and strategic formation models. We will also participate in an experiment on network formation. Finally, we will take a long look at models of how networks impact behavior, including games played on network and networked markets.

Syllabus:

1. Introduction and overview of the course (examples of social networks, their impact, why and how model networks, two approaches to network formation)
2. Describing and measuring networks and empirical background (definitions: degree, clustering, centrality, diameters, small worlds...)
3. Random network models, fitting networks to data
4. Theories of network formation: Random network models
5. Theories of network formation: Strategic network formation
6. Games played on networks
7. Applications: Labor markets
8. Applications: Crime
9. Applications: Trade
10. Applications: Innovation and research collaboration among firms
11. Applications: Banking
12. Experiments on networks

Assessment and permitted materials

The course assessment will be based on the results of the Midterm and the Final exam and the presentation of one paper. The Midterm and the Final exam are worth 30% of the grade each, the presentation is worth 40%. You need to gain at least 65% in order to pass the course successfully. For the presentation you'll need to choose a paper you find
particularly interesting and/or influential, prepare the slides and present in class the detailed overview of the model, assumptions used, results, examples and possible policy implications.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The motivation for the course and its aims are the following. Network economics
is a fast growing area of study, with a lot of potential for addressing a wide variety of socio-economic phenomena. Networks literally permeate our social and economic lives. The unemployed find jobs using the information and assistance of their friends and relatives. Consumers benefit from the research of friends and family into new products. In medicine and other technical fields, professional networks shape research patterns. Networks are important in determining how diseases spread, which languages we speak, how we vote, as well as whether or not we decide to become criminals, how much education we obtain, and our likelihood of succeeding professionally. The countless ways in which network structures affect our well-being make it critical to understand: (i) how network structures impact behavior, (ii) which networkstructures are likely to emerge in a society, and (iii) what can be done, in the way of design by policymakers, to improve systemic outcomes. This course provides an overview and synthesis of research on social and economic networks, drawing on studies by sociologists, economists, computer scientists, physicists, and mathematicians. It introduces the terminology, concepts and standard methods used and provides tools for analyzing diffusion, learning and play in networks.

Examination topics

The course will use the methods commonly used in statistics/probability theory and game theory. It will require some basic prerequisites in mathematics, statistics and game theory. For example, it will be assumed that students are comfortable with basic concepts from linear algebra and probability theory, as well as with standard concepts and assumptions from game theory (simultaneous and sequential games, repeated games,
Nash equilibrium, subgame perfection). Beyond those concepts, the course will be self-contained.

Reading list

The main text for the course is Matthew O. Jackson (2008) "Social
and Economic Networks", Princeton University Press. We shall also
use Sanjeev Goyal (2007) "Connections. An Introduction to
Economics of Networks", Princeton University Press.

This will be supplemented by some additional readings as we
proceed, which will be posted on the Networks' course section of
my web page.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:28