Econ Papers Daily / 期刊论文
战略影响者与信念塑造
Strategic Influencers and the Shaping of Beliefs
摘要
Influencers, from propagandists to sellers, expend vast resources targeting agents who amplify their message through word-of-mouth communication. While agents differ in network position, they also differ in their bias: Agents may naturally read articles with a particular slant or buy products from a certain seller. Absent competition, an influencer prefers targeting central agents and those biased against it. If agents are unbiased, competition leads to influencers targeting more central agents. However, when agents have heterogeneous biases and competition is intense, the incentive to deter one's rival dominates. Influencers protect their base, targeting those with similar beliefs in equilibrium.
中文摘要
从宣传者到销售者，影响者投入大量资源瞄准那些通过口碑传播放大其信息的代理人。尽管代理人在网络位置上有差异，他们在偏见上也各不相同：代理人可能自然倾向于阅读特定倾向的文章或从特定卖家购买产品。在没有竞争的情况下，影响者偏好瞄准中心代理人及那些对其有偏见的代理人。若代理人无偏见，竞争促使影响者瞄准更中心的代理人。然而，当代理人具有异质性偏见且竞争激烈时，遏制对手的动机占据主导。影响者保护其基本盘，在均衡状态下瞄准信念相近的代理人。