A Noncooperative Model of Network Formation

We present an approach to network formation based on the notion that social networks are formed by individual decisions that trade off the costs of forming and maintaining links against the potential rewards from doing so. We suppose that a link with another agent allows access, in part and in due course, to the benefits available to the latter via his own links. Thus individual links generate externalities whose value depends on the level of decay/delay associated with indirect links. A distinctive aspect of our approach is that the costs of link formation are incurred only by the person who initiates the link. This allows us to formulate the network formation process as a noncooperative game. We first provide a characterization of the architecture of equilibrium networks. We then study the dynamics of network formation. We find that individual efforts to access benefits offered by others lead, rapidly, to the emergence of an equilibrium social network, under a variety of circumstances. The limiting networks have simple architectures, e.g., the wheel, the star, or generalizations of these networks. In many cases, such networks are also socially efficient.     

Intergenerational succession and internationalisation strategy of family SMEs: Evidence from China

Internationalisation is a key dimension of a firm's strategy process. Yet, research on why and how family firms internationalise is underdeveloped. As one of the most critical issues family firms face, how intergenerational succession can influence their internationalisation remains an important question. Given the extraordinary succession and internationalisation circumstances pertaining to China, we conducted a qualitative case study analysis of eleven newly internationalised Chinese small- and medium-sized family firms that had recently undergone a succession from the first to the second generation. Three distinct intergenerational succession patterns among our case firms were identified, revealing three underlying types of incumbent-successor relationships. Based on our findings, we put forth propositions on how these patterns influence the next-generation's level of attitudinal commitment toward and resources available for internationalisation, and link these to the firm's overall internationalisation capabilities and international involvement. Our findings suggest that the connection between intergenerational succession and internationalisation strategy of family firms is significantly influenced by the nature of the underlying incumbent-successor relationship and therefore much more complex than previously considered.     

基于无标度网络的绿色出行选择行为研究

随着我国城市化进程的加快,机动车污染已成为我国城市空气污染的一个主要来源,提倡绿色出行的理念有助于缓解机动车尾气带来的空气污染,那么对于有限理性个体在复杂社交网络中的绿色出行行为意愿的研究以及群体行为的演化则成为了本文的研究焦点。本文基于计划行为理论等建立了基于个体行为态度、感知行为控制、主观规范及行为结果感知等影响因素的个体绿色出行行为意愿模型,运用观点传播动力学及无标度网络构建了个体选择行为交互网络模型。实证及仿真分析表明,个体行为态度因素在居民的绿色出行行为意愿中取值很高,作用显著,行为感知因素则影响较为有限,提高行为结果感知因素与主观规范因素的取值是提高居民绿色出行行为意愿的主要途径;在择优连接原则与网络增长假设条件下,整个网络向着几个中心节点聚集的趋势越来越明显,即网络节点中心化的程度越来越显著;在社会网络中,提高行为主体的信息交互阈值取值、增加行为主体绿色出行交通费用的折扣系数、提升民众采取绿色出行方式时的精神满足感、塑造宣传绿色出行的意见领袖将有利于提高居民的绿色出行行为意愿。     

碳交易政策对电煤供应链利润及碳排放量影响的仿真分析

针对由一个供应商和一个生产商组成的二级电煤供应链,分析该链上的生产、运输和消费三个主要碳排放环节,构建碳交易政策下电煤供应链全过程碳排放的系统动力学仿真模型。以神华集团X煤炭企业-Y电厂组成的电煤供应链为例,研究不同碳交易政策对该供应链及各节点企业利润及减排效果的影响。结果表明：电煤供应链上生产、运输和消费环节碳排放量占总碳排放量的平均份额分别为12.1%、39.6%和48.3%;碳交易价格越高,对电煤供应链及各节点企业利润的负面影响越大,其减排效果先增后减;随着免费配额比例的下降,电煤供应链上各节点企业利润明显减少,其减排效果略有提高;碳交易补贴可减缓电煤供应链及各节点企业利润下降,并且可有效地提升其减排效果。     

Mother–Grandmother and Mother–Father Coparenting Across Time Among Mexican‐Origin Adolescent Mothers and Their Families

The current study examined mothers' reports of coparenting relationship dynamics (i.e., conflict, communication) within and between mother–father and mother–grandmother subsystems from 10 months postpartum to 5 years postpartum among 178 Mexican‐origin teen mothers (M age = 16.78 years; SD = 1.00). Within subsystems, more frequent mother–father coparenting conflict was associated with less frequent mother–father coparenting communication from 10 months to 5 years postpartum, and more frequent mother–father coparenting communication was associated with less frequent mother–father conflict from 3 to 4 years postpartum. Furthermore, more frequent mother–grandmother coparenting communication was associated with less frequent mother–grandmother conflict from 10 months to 2 years postpartum. Regarding relations across subsystems, more frequent mother–father coparenting conflict was associated with more frequent mother–grandmother conflict from 10 months to 2 years postpartum, as well as from 3 to 4 years postpartum. Findings have implications for future interventions focused on coparenting relationships within the context of adolescent parenthood.     

Shared housing among young adults: avoiding complications in domestic relationships

One pathway by which young adults in the Western world are navigating housing difficulties is to pragmatically share costs by living or flatting with peers. The current study sought to add to the limited literature on this lifestyle through the application of discursive psychology to understanding the social dynamics of relationships in the intimacy of these households. Data was drawn from interviews with experienced New Zealand house sharers aged 20–35. Analysis is presented of two spontaneous discourses, which emerged, both dealing with competing tensions on the merits of living with couples or single people and friends or strangers. Whereas couples are not averse to sharing with other couples, single people tend to elect to share with unattached individuals. Favouring friends as housemates was the norm among town dwellers, while city folk were more open to flatting with strangers. Talk was driven by the unquestioned value associated with having a working living arrangement, demonstrating the acute awareness young adults have of potential problems that can destabilise or sustain domestic harmony. Valuable insight is provided into the complexity of shared housing relationships as well as contemporary young adulthood.     

Complex contention: analyzing power dynamics within Anonymous

Abstract

Anonymous is notoriously elusive as the movement takes on radically different guises, constantly mutates, and traverses national borders and ideological divides. Since Anonymous is difficult to grasp with conventional social movement theory, this paper uses insights from complexity theory to analyze the movement’s evolution in general and its dynamics of power in particular. While participants in Anonymous radically reject hierarchy and leadership, dominant groups emerged at various points in the movement’s evolution. This paper aims to explain how such dominant groups emerge and concentrate power and how they subsequently dissolve and lose power. Drawing on ethnographic research as well as secondary sources, it identifies mechanisms of power concentration and diffusion within nominally horizontalist movements.     

Revisiting social-mediated crisis communication model: The Lancôme regenerative crisis after the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement

The widespread use of social media has stimulated the number of crises on a global scale and given rise to regenerative crises which involve multiple crisis stages and publics. Using the Social-Mediated Crisis Communication model and the regenerative crisis model, this study explores a real-life organizational crisis related to Lancôme Hong Kong, which was driven by the socio-political environment after the Umbrella Movement. It aims to examine the engagement strategies by different publics, and also the influence of information forms and sources on the trends of emotion among social media publics. Results also provided an empirical evaluation of the regenerative crisis model driven by a socio-political environment. An online content analysis of selected 10% sample with an online data acquisition and analysis tool (3902 Facebook posts and comments, 1178 forum posts and comments, and 244 online news articles) revealed the interlocking connection among the involved publics along with the social-mediated regenerative crisis life cycle. Followers’ emotional responses were not only attached to Lancôme, but also to third parties as information sources. Four subcategories of influential social media creators were identified. Refinement on the Social-Mediated Crisis Communication model and practical implications are suggested.     

Sexual Dynamics of Iranian Remarried Women in Blended Families: A Qualitative Study on Remarried Women’s Life

Despite the indispensable importance of the sexual relationship to the family dynamics, there has never been a study on remarried Iranian women in blended families. For the purpose of this study, 52 divorced women, who married for the second time, were interviewed. The data were codified line by line using thematic content analysis. Six main themes were identified from the interviews: (a) intrapersonal effects, (b) interpersonal effects, (c) attachment-based sexual relationships, (d) a new start, (e) family-related stress, and (f) pregnancy-related issues. Many of these women reported they were still thinking about their previous relationship and were influenced especially by how their ex-husband evaluated their body image. These findings presented a relatively clear image of the impact of remarriage on the sexuality of Iranian remarried women in blended families. These findings suffer from some constraints, such as generalizing of the data due to the small sample size.