We present the first general bounds on the mixing time of logit dynamics for wide classes of strategic games. The logit dynamics describes the behaviour of a complex system whose individual components act "selfishly" and keep responding according to some partial ("noisy") knowledge of the system. In particular, we prove nearly tight bounds for potential games and games with dominant strategies. Our results show that, for potential games, the mixing time is upper and lower bounded by an "exponential" in the inverse of the noise and in the maximum potential difference. Instead, for games with dominant strategies, the mixing time cannot grow arbitrarily with the inverse of the noise. Finally, we refine our analysis for a subclass of potential games called "graphical" coordination games and we give evidence that the mixing time strongly depends on the structure of the underlying graph. Games in this class have been previously studied in Physics and, more recently, in Computer Science in the context of diffusion of new technologies.

Convergence to equilibrium of logit dynamics for strategic games

AULETTA, Vincenzo;FERRAIOLI, DIODATO;PASQUALE, FRANCESCO;PENNA, Paolo;PERSIANO, Giuseppe
2011-01-01

Abstract

We present the first general bounds on the mixing time of logit dynamics for wide classes of strategic games. The logit dynamics describes the behaviour of a complex system whose individual components act "selfishly" and keep responding according to some partial ("noisy") knowledge of the system. In particular, we prove nearly tight bounds for potential games and games with dominant strategies. Our results show that, for potential games, the mixing time is upper and lower bounded by an "exponential" in the inverse of the noise and in the maximum potential difference. Instead, for games with dominant strategies, the mixing time cannot grow arbitrarily with the inverse of the noise. Finally, we refine our analysis for a subclass of potential games called "graphical" coordination games and we give evidence that the mixing time strongly depends on the structure of the underlying graph. Games in this class have been previously studied in Physics and, more recently, in Computer Science in the context of diffusion of new technologies.
2011
9781450307437
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11386/3040683
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