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Can simpler rules naturally produce the complex networks we observe?

David Dobáš, Diego Garlaschelli, Petr Jizba

May 29, 2026

Standard network models assume independent connections and use Shannon entropy—arguably an arbitrary choice. Switching to a broader class of entropies that make fewer assumptions produces networks with phase transitions, clustering, and sparse-yet-interconnected triangles, mimicking real networks without adding extra constraints. This suggests complex network structure may emerge naturally from maximally neutral statistics.
Published as $q$-Exponential Random Graphs: higher-order networks from simple constraints arXiv:2605.31209
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