Eur. Phys. J. B (2012) 85: 357
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2012-30450-2

Regular Article

Axelrod model: accepting or discussing

¹ Center for Models of Life, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 17, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
² Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, and Mark Kac Center for Complex Systems Research, Jagiellonian University, ul. Reymonta 4, 30-059 Kraków, Poland

^a e-mail: bartek@th.if.uj.edu.pl

Received: 6 June 2012
Received in final form: 27 July 2012
Published online: 24 October 2012

Abstract

Agents building social systems are characterized by complex states, and interactions among individuals can align their opinions. The Axelrod model describes how local interactions can result in emergence of cultural domains. We propose two variants of the Axelrod model where local consensus is reached either by listening and accepting one of neighbors’ opinion or two agents discuss their opinion and achieve an agreement with mixed opinions. We show that the local agreement rule affects the character of the transition between the single culture and the multiculture regimes.