Seeding a Simple Contagion

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Sadler, Evan
• 署名单位: Columbia University
• 刊物名称: ECONOMETRICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0012-9682
• DOI: 10.3982/ECTA22448
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 71-93
• 关键词: LIKELIHOOD; MODEL

摘要

I propose a method for selecting seeds to maximize contagion. First, fit a random graph model using a coarse categorization of individuals. Next, compute a seed multiplier for each category-this is the average number of new infections a seed generates. Finally, seed the category with the highest multiplier. Relative to the most common methods, my approach requires far less granular data, and it consumes less computing power-the problem scales with the number of categories, not the number of individuals. I validate the methodology through simulations using real network data.