A general analysis of boundedly rational learning in social networks

We analyze boundedly rational learning in social networks within binary action environments. We establish how learning outcomes depend on the environment (i.e., informational structure, utility function), the axioms imposed on the updating behavior, and the network structure. In particular, we provi...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Mueller-Frank, M. (Manuel)|||/items/eebf6adb-8bcb-459e-b3ff-982b47884409, Neri, C. (Claudia)|||/items/7c14a019-cf16-44ea-96f7-227b1ae379de
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Navarra
Repositorio:Dadun. Depósito Académico Digital de la Universidad de Navarra
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:dadun.unav.edu:10171/69271
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10171/69271
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Social networks
Naïve inference
Naïve learning
Bounded rationality
Consensus
Information aggregation
Descripción
Sumario:We analyze boundedly rational learning in social networks within binary action environments. We establish how learning outcomes depend on the environment (i.e., informational structure, utility function), the axioms imposed on the updating behavior, and the network structure. In particular, we provide a normative foundation for quasi-Bayesian updating, where a quasi-Bayesian agent treats others' actions as if they were based only on their private signal. Quasi-Bayesian updating induces learning (i.e., convergence to the optimal action for every agent in every connected network) only in highly asymmetric environments. In all other environments, learning fails in networks with a diameter larger than 4. Finally, we consider a richer class of updating behavior that allows for nonstationarity and differential treatment of neighbors' actions depending on their position in the network. We show that within this class there exist updating systems that induce learning for most networks.