Characterizing and Modeling the Structure of Competition Networks*

Not similar with the current interest on collaboration networks research, the focus in this paper is competition networks. The topology of a firm competition network has been investigated empirically and theoretically. We have found that four fundamental characteristics emerge simultaneously in the competition network, including hierarchical modularity, positive degree correlation, power-law degree distribution and self-similarity. The theoretical model we proposed can predict these structural patterns successfully. The obtained results are significant for further network analysis of the omnipresent competitive phenomena