Eur. Phys. J. B (2017) 90: 234
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2017-80214-5

Regular Article

Fractal and multifractal analysis of complex networks: Estonian network of payments

¹ School of Science, Department of Cybernetics, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 21, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia
² Swedbank AS, Liivalaia 12, 15038 Tallinn, Estonia

^a e-mail: stretomx@gmail.com

Received: 11 April 2017
Received in final form: 11 June 2017
Published online: 4 December 2017

Abstract

Complex networks have gained much attention from different areas of knowledge in recent years. Particularly, the structures and dynamics of such systems have attracted considerable interest. Complex networks may have characteristics of multifractality. In this study, we analyze fractal and multifractal properties of a novel network: the large scale economic network of payments of Estonia, where companies are represented by nodes and the payments done between companies are represented by links. We present a fractal scaling analysis and examine the multifractal behavior of this network by using a sandbox algorithm. Our results indicate the existence of multifractality in this network and consequently, the existence of multifractality in the Estonian economy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that analyzes multifractality of a complex network of payments.