Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Cowan, Robin
Author-Email: cowan@merit.unu.edu
Author-Workplace-Name: UNU-MERIT
Author-Name: Jonard, Nicolas
Author-Email: nicolas.jonard@uni.lu
Author-Workplace-Name: Université de Luxembourg
Title: Structural Holes, Innovation and the Distribution of Ideas 
Abstract:  We model knowledge diffusion in a population of agents situated on a 
	 network, interacting only over direct ties. Some agents are by nature 
	 traders, others are by nature "givers": traders demand a quid pro quo 
	 for information transfer; givers do not. We are interested in efficiency 
	 of diffusion and explore the interplay between the structure of the 
	 population (proportion of traders), the network structure (clustering, 
	 path length and degree distribution), and the scarcity of knowledge. We 
	 find that at the global level, trading (as opposed to giving) reduces 
	 efficiency. At the individual level, highly connected agents do well 
	 when knowledge is scarce, agents in clustered neighbourhoods do well 
	 when it is abundant. The latter finding is connected to the debate on 
	 structural holes and social capital.
Classification-JEL: O31, D8   
Keywords: Innovation, Diffusion of Innovations, Knowledge, Information, Networks
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 2006
Number: 039
File-URL: http://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/wppdf/2006/wp2006-039.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 275 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2006039