Theory Workshop - Patrick Allmis (Cambridge)

Title: The Role of Confidence for Disputes

Abstract:

In this model, agents with differing views decide which views to tolerate. The connections between these agents depend on their socialization efforts. Any remaining agents are in dispute. Benefits stem from disputes, which are contests between players, and increase in an agent's strength and confidence. An agent's strength is the number and weight of their connections, and their confidence depends on the number of connections who are in dispute with their opponent. The equilibrium network either consists of isolated echo chambers or opponents have mutual connections. Overall dispute intensity decreases in how much confidence agents derive through their connections if society consists of echo chambers and decreases otherwise. Encouraging socialization reduces dispute intensity when society is close to forming echo chambers.