Inclusion as a Basis for Power in Exchange Networks

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An exchange network is comprised of people or other units such as organizations interconnected in a group. The participants are occupants of positions in the network, and the connections between any two participants or collectively in the group as a whole may be exclusive or inclusive. Inclusion occurs when two or more exchanges must be completed for a benefit to be realized from any of the exchanges. This condition is in contrast to exclusion which occurs when only one exchange must be completed for a benefit to be realized. Having to make many exchanges is seen as weakening power or control. The aim of this research is to examine inclusion as a basis for power in exchange networks. A series of experiments investigates a variety of networks in order to quantitatively determine the joint effect of inclusion and exclusion and tests a theory that predicts that the effect of inclusion increases with the number of exchanges but is completely eliminated when exclusion is also present. The study of the condition of exclusion has dominated research on exchange networks. This project will contribute to the understanding of power relations in exchange networks by systematically investigating the condition of inclusion.