Topic:Co-existing Platforms in Multi-Layer Network Formation

Lecturer:Zhuwei Cui

Zhiwei Cui is a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Economics, Renmin University of China, and an executive director of the Game Theory Branch of the Operations Research Society of China. He conducted research/completed 4 projects under the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and is served as the first author or corresponding author in the Journal of Economic Theory, Games and Economic Behavior(2 papers, Including 1 article), Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control(2 articles. He has published more than 20 papers in international well-known economic journals such as Journal of Mathematical Economics and important domestic management or operations research journals such as Operations Research and Management and Management Review. He won the 2023 Innovation Achievement Award of China Information Economics Society, the first prize of the 2022 Excellent Scientific Research Achievement Award of Renmin University of China, the best paper of the Academic Annual meeting of China Information Economics Society (2019), and the second prize of the Scientific Research Achievement Award of universities in Zhejiang Province, etc.

Abstract:

We study a model of non-cooperative multi-layer network formation where players have to choose among two platforms (layers) but may -at an additional cost- also use both. Players may only form costly links to other players who are on the same platform as they are. The presence of links allows players to access non-rival benefits such as information. We employ this model to study conditions under which multiple platforms may co-exist and study the implications for the resulting network. We argue that co-existence can occur if some players find it worthwhile to use multiple platforms and relay benefits to those who only use one. We further study a noisy myopic best-response process to emphasize that co-existence may also persist in the long run. We explore several extensions such as frictions in information transmission and heterogeneous preferences.

Time:4:00 p.m,September 11th,2024

Venue:B321,Zhixin Building,Central Campus