Emergence of core-peripheries in networks.

T Verma,J Nagler,N.A.M Araújo,F Russmann,H.J Herrmann

doi:10.1038/ncomms10441

Abstract

A number of important transport networks, such as the airline and trade networks of the world, exhibit a characteristic core–periphery structure, wherein a few nodes are highly interconnected and the rest of the network frays into a tree. Mechanisms underlying the emergence of core–peripheries, however, remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that a simple pruning process based on removal of underutilized links and redistribution of loads can lead to the emergence of core–peripheries. Links are assumed beneficial if they either carry a sufficiently large load or are essential for global connectivity. This incentivized redistribution process is controlled by a single parameter, which balances connectivity and profit. The obtained networks exhibit a highly resilient and connected core with a frayed periphery. The balanced network shows a higher resilience than the world airline network or the world trade network, revealing a pathway towards robust structural features through pruning.

Highlights

A number of important transport networks, such as the airline and trade networks of the world, exhibit a characteristic core–periphery structure, wherein a few nodes are highly interconnected and the rest of the network frays into a tree
An ideal point-to-point network topology would ensure the fastest transfer of loads in a transport network
One of the remarkable features of the world airline network (WAN) is its small core that is almost fully connected and surrounded by a vast periphery that is nearly tree-like and connected to the core through many regional and national hubs[4]. This block arrangement is prominently known as the core–periphery (CP) structure[5,6,7,8], which was reported for other infrastructure networks, such as the world trade network[9,10], the autonomous Internet network[10] and the financial interbank lending markets[11], where the fraction of peripheral nodes varies from 45 to 85%

Summary

Introduction

A number of important transport networks, such as the airline and trade networks of the world, exhibit a characteristic core–periphery structure, wherein a few nodes are highly interconnected and the rest of the network frays into a tree. The load passing between a pair of nodes in a transport network can be redistributed with only one change in case the direct link becomes unavailable.

Results

Conclusion