Communications of the ACM
Braess' Paradox Infects Social Networks Too, Say Computer Scientists
Braess' Paradox, that adding extra roads to a network can increase traffic congestion, can be seen in social networks as well.
Credit: Auckland Transport Blog
Braess' Paradox states that adding extra roads to a network can lead to greater congestion, and removing roads can improve travel times. University of Amsterdam researchers have discovered a new version of this paradox that occurs in social networks in which users choose products based on the decisions made by their friends.
The researchers found that adding extra products can reduce the outcome for everyone and that reducing product choice can lead to better outcomes for all users. The research could have an important effect on market dynamics.
In the future, for example, researchers could develop a mathematical model that tells product designers when to launch and remove products from the market in a way that improves the overall outcome.
From Technology Review
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