Networks regulating networks: The effects of constraints on topological evolution

Abstract

We propose a generalized framework to analyse constraints and representations in growing complex networks. We show that the introduction of biological, social and technological information by means of an additional network of constraints, together with the distinction between complete potential networks and instantaneous effective ones, can offer additional insights about the final topological outcome. Specifically, we study the emergence of exponential cutoffs in broad-scale degree distributions as a result of high level constraints. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.