Transitions between metastable long-run consumption behaviors in a stochastic peer-driven consumer network

Abstract

<p style='text-indent:20px;'>We study behavioral change - as a transition between coexisting attractors - in the context of a stochastic, non-linear consumption model with interdependent agents. Relying on the indirect approach to the analysis of a stochastic dynamic system, and employing a mix of analytical, numerical and graphical techniques, we identify conditions under which such transitions are likely to occur. The stochastic analysis depends crucially on the stochastic sensitivity function technique as it can be applied to the stochastic analoga of closed invariant curves [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b14">14</xref>], [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b1">1</xref>]. We find that in a moderate noise environment increased peer influence actually reduces the complexity of observable long-run consumer behavior.</p>