Endogenous Social Interactions with Unobserved Networks
提出一个内生网络形成模型，仅利用可观测结果恢复未观测的社会网络，并应用于美国国会立法者之间的社会联系网络，发现社会联系对立法者生产力有重要影响。
Abstract We present a model of endogenous network formation to recover unobserved social networks using only observable outcomes. We propose a novel equilibrium concept that allows for a sharp characterization of equilibrium behaviour and that yields a unique prediction under testable conditions. While the equilibrium is characterized by a large number of non-linear equations, we show that it can be efficiently employed to recover the networks by an appropriately designed approximate Bayesian computation method. We apply the model to recover the network of social links between lawmakers in the U.S. Congress using data from the 109th to 113th legislatures. We show that social connections are important for legislators’ productivities, and we identify some of the key determinants of network centralities in the U.S. Congress.