Convergence rates for the degree distribution in a dynamic network model

Abstract

In the stochastic network model of Britton and Lindholm, the number of individuals evolves according to a supercritical linear birth and death process, and a random social index is assigned to each individual at birth, which controls the rate at which connections to other individuals are created. We derive a rate for the convergence of the degree distribution in this model towards the mixed Poisson distribution determined by Britton and Lindholm based on heuristic arguments. To do so, we deduce the degree distribution at finite time and derive an approximation result for mixed Poisson distributions to compute an upper bound for the total variation distance to the asymptotic degree distribution.