%0 Journal Article
	%A Usha Sridhar and  Sridhar Mandyam
	%D 2012
	%J International Journal of Computer and Information Engineering
	%B World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
	%I Open Science Index 61, 2012
	%T A Utilitarian Approach to Modeling Information Flows in Social Networks
	%U https://publications.waset.org/pdf/4507
	%V 61
	%X We propose a multi-agent based utilitarian approach
to model and understand information flows in social networks that
lead to Pareto optimal informational exchanges. We model the
individual expected utility function of the agents to reflect the net
value of information received. We show how this model, adapted
from a theorem by Karl Borch dealing with an actuarial Risk
Exchange concept in the Insurance industry, can be used for social
network analysis. We develop a utilitarian framework that allows us
to interpret Pareto optimal exchanges of value as potential
information flows, while achieving a maximization of a sum of
expected utilities of information of the group of agents. We examine
some interesting conditions on the utility function under which the
flows are optimal. We illustrate the promise of this new approach to
attach economic value to information in networks with a synthetic
example.
	%P 131 - 136