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A Conditional Curie–Weiss Model for Stylized Multi-group Binary Choice with Social Interaction

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Abstract

This paper proposes a conditional Curie–Weiss model as a model for decision making in a stylized society made up of binary decision makers that face a particular dichotomous choice between two options. Following Brock and Durlauf (Discrete choice with social interaction I: theory, 1955), we set-up both socio-economic and statistical mechanical models for the choice problem. We point out when both the socio-economic and statistical mechanical models give rise to the same self-consistent equilibrium mean choice level(s). Phase diagram of the associated statistical mechanical model and its socio-economic implications are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the anonymous referee, to an earlier version of this paper, who gave us various suggestions to improve the paper and also brought to our attention the literature on discrete choice.

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  1. Mathematics and Statistics Department, University of Energy and Natural Resources, P. O. Box 214, Sunyani, Ghana

    Alex Akwasi Opoku, Kwame Owusu Edusei & Richard Kwame Ansah

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  1. Alex Akwasi Opoku
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  2. Kwame Owusu Edusei
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  3. Richard Kwame Ansah
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Correspondence to Alex Akwasi Opoku.

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Opoku, A.A., Edusei, K.O. & Ansah, R.K. A Conditional Curie–Weiss Model for Stylized Multi-group Binary Choice with Social Interaction. J Stat Phys 171, 106–126 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10955-018-1988-y

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