Working Paper #2013-004
Interactive knowledge exchanges under complex social relations: A simulation model
This is a model of knowledge exchange by means of informal interaction
among agents in low technology clusters. What this study seeks to do is
to colour these exchanges by placing them in an environment of complex
social relations, test whether the small-world network structure is the
most favourable for knowledge exchanges in these environments, and
explore the influence of social relations and network distance. These
enquiries are the contribution of this model to the existing series of
studies on efficient network structures for knowledge diffusion. We find
that the small-world network structure may not be the best network
structure for highest and most equitable knowledge distribution, when
knowledge exchanges are undertaken in environments of complex social
relations. Also, we confirm that the highest and most equitable
knowledge distribution is achieved when there is perfect affinity among
the agents.
- Keywords
-
- Knowledge Exchanges
- Small-Worlds
- Social Networks
- Complex Social Relations
- JEL codes
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- O33
- Z13
Cite this as
APA 7th ed.Cowan, R., & Kamath, A. (2013). Interactive knowledge exchanges under complex social relations: A simulation model (UNU-MERIT Working Paper No. 2013-004). UNU-MERIT. https://unu-merit.nl/publications/working-papers/abstract/?id=4866