Characterizing and Modeling the Structure of Competition Networks

Bo Yang, Hecheng Wang

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DOI: 10.4236/jssm.2011.41002                

Abstract

Not similar with the current interest on collaboration networks research, the focus in this paper is competition networks. The topology of a firm competition network has been investigated empirically and theoretically. We have found that four fundamental characteristics emerge simultaneously in the competition network, including hierarchical modularity, positive degree correlation, power-law degree distribution and self-similarity. The theoretical model we proposed can predict these structural patterns successfully. The obtained results are significant for further network analysis of the omnipresent competitive phenomena.

Keywords

Firm Competition, Structural Embeddedness, Complex Networks

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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