Decentralized Decision-Making in Complex Network Systems

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Network systems provide the infrastructure and foundation for the functioning of today's societies and economies. They come in many forms and include physical networks such as transportation, communication, and power networks, as well as more abstract networks such as a variety of economic and financial networks and social and knowledge networks. Such network systems are characterized by decentralized decision-making, a large-scale nature, different time scales, and distinct system equilibrium concepts. This project studies complex network systems, consisting of the foundational systems of transportation and communication networks whose interplay is becoming increasingly important in the case of telecommuting, intelligent transportation systems, electronic commerce, and knowledge networks. The project aims to: develop a theory of such complex network systems, which emphasizes the individual behavior of the decision-makers and allows for the treatment of multiple criteria; construct algorithms for the solution of such systems, along with convergence analysis and computer implementation and numerical experimentation; develop visualization techniques to understand and depict the behavior, and apply the theory to complex knowledge networks; and conduct an empirical analysis. The results of the research are expected to have broad cross-disciplinary reach and to significantly add to the understanding of fundamental networks systems underlying our societies and economies for the purpose of both prediction and network management purposes.