TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Comola, Margherita
AU  - Rusinowska, Agnieszka
AU  - Villeval, Marie Claire
        TI  - Competing for Influence in Networks through Strategic Targeting
        PY  - 2024/Sep/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 17315
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/publications/dp17315
        AB  - We experimentally investigate how players with opposing views compete for influence through strategic targeting in networks. We varied the network structure, the relative influence of the opponent, and the heterogeneity of the nodes' initial opinions. Although most players adopted a best-response strategy based on their relative influence, we also observed behaviors deviating from this strategy, such as the tendency to target central nodes and avoid nodes targeted by the opponent. Targeting is also affected by affinity and opposition biases, the strength of which depends on the distribution of initial opinions.
        KW  - network
KW  - influence
KW  - targeting
KW  - competition
KW  - laboratory experiment
        ER  -