Nonequilibrium Phase Transition in a Model for Social Influence

TLDR

The Axelrod model is a nonequilibrium system with short‑range interactions exhibiting rich dynamics. The study uses extensive simulations of the Axelrod model to understand how cultural domains form. The authors map the phase diagram via simulations, revealing a nonequilibrium transition between polarized and fragmented cultural phases. The transition is either continuous or discontinuous depending on parameters, and at criticality cultural region sizes follow a power‑law distribution.

Abstract

We present extensive numerical simulations of the Axelrod's model for social influence, aimed at understanding the formation of cultural domains. This is a nonequilibrium model with short range interactions and a remarkably rich dynamical behavior. We study the phase diagram of the model and uncover a nonequilibrium phase transition separating an ordered (culturally polarized) phase from a disordered (culturally fragmented) one. The nature of the phase transition can be continuous or discontinuous depending on the model parameters. At the transition, the size of cultural regions is power-law distributed.