Network modeling by linear assignment

Abstract.

 Links between socio-economic units have been studied by means of various techniques. This study analyses networks that take on a permanently growing importance in evolutionary economics. The analysis is conducted in a sequential way on matrices picturing the intensities of certain relations; the technique used is linear assignment. The latter is first applied to matrices of socio-economic relations set up for the Netherlands and Portugal; the various types of “networking” present could be revealed and compared. Medical activities, taken in their socio-economic setting, rest also on various networks ; available matrices for the Netherlands are submitted to the above method of analysis. Moreover, a classical input-output matrix for the United Kingdom is used as a last test for the validity of the method.