6.207/14.15  Networks

Networks are pervasive in our modern society: technological networks, which provide communication, transportation, energy services; social networks, which determine our information, influence our opinions, and shape political attitudes; economic and financial networks, which determine the nature of economic interactions and financial linkages, and natural networks (e.g., biological and physical networks), which govern the evolution and spread of natural and social phenomena.

This course will highlight common principles that permeate the functioning of these networks. It will both introduce conceptual tools from dynamical systems, random graph models, optimization and game theory, and cover a wide variety of applications including: learning and informational cascades; economic and financial networks; social influence networks; formation of social groups; communication networks and the Internet; consensus and gossiping; spread and control of epidemics; and control and use of energy networks.