Networks and graph

reseaux-graphes2A network consists of nodes which represent some entities with connections (edges) between them, the edges. Networks, or graphs, play a central role in a wide variety of domains. Examples include for instance the Internet, the World Wide Web, biological networks, social and economic networks and transportation networks.
Recent years have witnessed a substantial new movement in network research, with the focus shifting away from the analysis of single small graphs and the properties of individual nodes or edges within such graphs to consideration of large-scale statistical properties of real complex networks. Specifically, many of these complex networks show the small-world property in which most nodes can be reached from every other node by a small number of steps. Additionally, several of these networks are characterized by a statistical abundance of “hubs” with a very large number of connections compared to the average.
The worldwide air transportation network has precisely these characteristics; its structure is mostly determined by the actions of airline companies, but it is also the outcome of historical developments arising from geographical, political, and economic factors.
 
reseaux-graphesThe main objectives of this research theme in DEVI are:

  • to build an economic framework which takes into account the structure of the air transportation network in the modelling of competition or coordination between airlines;
  • to address the criticism that the recent competition policy decisions relating to the air transport sector take insufficient account of the network organization of the market, by a thorough analysis of the structure of the airline;
  • to characterize airline networks on the basis of relevant graph theory index and highlight the main determinants of their evolution;
  • to investigate the properties of weighted networks and the dynamic behavior of airline networks by using data on U.S. domestic airlines.

This is a multidisciplinary research theme, that uses tools from mathematics, algorithms and economics.

Team members to contact

Hover over a name for more details.
  • Christian Bontemps

    • Office: Z14
    • Telephone: +33(0)5 62 25 95 18
    • Fax: +33(0)5 62 25 95 99

    • Personal webpage
    Researc topics:

    • econometrics
    • applied IO
    • microeconometrics
    • set identification

  • Steve Lawford

    • Office: Z32
    • Telephone: +33(0)5 62 25 95 32
    • Fax: +33(0)5 62 25 95 99

    • Personal webpage
    Researc topics:

    • theoretical econometrics: nonlinear models, time series
    • applied econometrics: modelling and estimation (discrete choice, networks)
    • applied mathematics: graph theory, special functions

  • Nathalie Lenoir

    • Office: Z32
    • Telephone: +33(0)5 62 25 95 28
    • Fax: +33(0)5 62 25 95 99

    • Personal webpage
    Researc topics:

    • air transport economics : market regulation and deregulation, airport slots, economic impact of air transport
    • productivity : airline productivity

  • Estelle Malavolti

    • Office: Z30
    • Telephone: +33(0)5 62 25 96 09
    • Fax: +33(0)5 62 25 95 99

    • Personal webpage
    Researc topics:

    • industrial organisation
    • competition policy

  • Chantal Roucolle

    • Office: Z33
    • Telephone: +33(0)5 62 25 95 31
    • Fax: +33(0)5 62 25 95 99
    Researc topics:

    • air transport economics and econometrics
    • microeconomics: modeling the behavior of the air transport stakeholders (prices, capacity)
    • industrial organization: analyzing stakeholders’ interactions, studying imperfect competitive markets (price, capacity, technology)
    • applied econometrics: econometric methods (testing economic models), modeling and estimating (networks, discrete choice, price competition, economic impact of air transport)

Research topics