Promotion of cooperation induced by nonuniform payoff allocation in spatial public goods game

• Published in: The European physical journal. B, Condensed matter physics Condensed matter physics, 2010-02, Vol.73 (3), p.455-459
• Main Authors: Peng, D., Yang, H.-X., Wang, W.-X., Chen, G. R., Wang, B.-H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Complex Systems; Condensed Matter Physics; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid- and Aerodynamics; Game theory; Interdisciplinary Physics; Operational research and scientific management; Operational research. Management science; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Solid State Physics
• ISSN: 1434-6028; 1434-6036
• DOI: 10.1140/epjb/e2010-00008-7

A nonuniform payoff allocation mechanism is proposed for spatial public goods games where individuals are nodes on a scale-free network. Each individual is assigned a weight k i α , where k i is the degree of individual i and α is an adjustable parameter that controls the degree of diversity in individuals’ profits. During the evolution progress, the allocation of payoff on individual i is assumed to be proportional to its weight. Individuals synchronously update their strategies according to the stochastic rule with a fixed noise level. It is found that there exists an optimal value of α which yields the highest level of cooperation. Other pertinent quantities, including the payoff and the probability of finding a node playing as cooperator versus the degree, are also investigated computationally and analytically. Our results suggest that a suitable degree of diversity among individuals can promote the emergence of cooperation.