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Robustness and assortativity for diffusion-like processes in scale-free networks

D'Agostino, Gregorio and Scala, Antonio and Zlatic, Vinko and Caldarelli, Guido Robustness and assortativity for diffusion-like processes in scale-free networks. EPL (Europhysics Letters), 97 (6). p. 68006. ISSN 0295-5075 (2012)

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Abstract

By analysing the diffusive dynamics of epidemics and of distress in complex networks, we study the effect of the assortativity on the robustness of the networks. We first determine by spectral analysis the thresholds above which epidemics/failures can spread; we then calculate the slowest diffusional times. Our results shows that disassortative networks exhibit a higher epidemiological threshold and are therefore easier to immunize, while in assortative networks there is a longer time for intervention before epidemic/failure spreads. Moreover, we study by computer simulations the sandpile cascade model, a diffusive model of distress propagation (financial contagion). We show that, while assortative networks are more prone to the propagation of epidemic/failures, degree-targeted immunization policies increases their resilience to systemic risk.

Item Type: Article
Identification Number: 10.1209/0295-5075/97/68006
Projects: EC FET Open Project “FOC” Nr. 255987
Uncontrolled Keywords: PACS: 87.23.Ge Dynamics of social systems; 89.75.Hc Networks and genealogical trees; 05.70.Ln Nonequilibrium and irreversible thermodynamics
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Q Science > QC Physics
Research Area: Economics and Institutional Change
Depositing User: Ms T. Iannizzi
Date Deposited: 26 Mar 2012 07:46
Last Modified: 07 Apr 2016 09:48
URI: http://eprints.imtlucca.it/id/eprint/1239

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