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Dynamics of Ranking Processes in Complex Systems

Nicholas Blumm, Gourab Ghoshal, Zalán Forró, Maximilian Schich, Ginestra Bianconi, Jean-Philippe Bouchaud, and Albert-László Barabási
Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 128701 – Published 17 September 2012
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Abstract

The world is addicted to ranking: everything, from the reputation of scientists, journals, and universities to purchasing decisions is driven by measured or perceived differences between them. Here, we analyze empirical data capturing real time ranking in a number of systems, helping to identify the universal characteristics of ranking dynamics. We develop a continuum theory that not only predicts the stability of the ranking process, but shows that a noise-induced phase transition is at the heart of the observed differences in ranking regimes. The key parameters of the continuum theory can be explicitly measured from data, allowing us to predict and experimentally document the existence of three phases that govern ranking stability.

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  • Received 6 April 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.128701

© 2012 American Physical Society

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The Longevity of Rankings

Published 17 September 2012

A phase transition controlled by noise determines how volatile rankings are.

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Authors & Affiliations

Nicholas Blumm1,2, Gourab Ghoshal1,2,3, Zalán Forró4, Maximilian Schich1, Ginestra Bianconi1, Jean-Philippe Bouchaud5, and Albert-László Barabási1,2

  • 1Center for Complex Network Research, Department of Physics, Biology and Computer Science, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
  • 2Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Center for Cancer Systems Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
  • 3The Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
  • 4Department of Management, Technology and Economics, ETH, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland
  • 5Capital Fund Management, 6 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France

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Issue

Vol. 109, Iss. 12 — 21 September 2012

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