Coalition formation and the diffusion of shared goods: An agent-based model

Francesco Pasimeni; Tommaso Ciarli

doi:10.1007/s00191-025-00931-8

Coalition formation and the diffusion of shared goods: An agent-based model

Francesco Pasimeni (Corresponding author)
, Tommaso Ciarli

Technology, Innovation & Society

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Abstract

This paper combines an evolutionary model of consumer coalition formation with a model of diffusion on a network to explore the dynamics of how groups of neighboring individuals adopt a shared good, as a form of collective action that is more sustainable than individual adoption. We show that coalition formation is a prerequisite for the adoption of a shared good but also an obstacle to diffusion. The smaller the geographic area of consumers who can use the shared good, the lower the adoption rate. Early information is a key factor; those who do not join a group at an early stage remain isolated and never adopt. Furthermore, geographic constraints limit the spread of information and adoption. We discuss how policymakers can support social actions that lead to the adoption of shared goods and promote sustainable transformation of our societies.

Original language	English
Article number	6
Number of pages	40
Journal	Journal of Evolutionary Economics
Volume	36
Issue number	1
Early online date	21 Jan 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-025-00931-8
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 21 Jan 2026

Funding

The paper has benefited from discussions with Frederique Bone, Tiziano Distefano, Tim Foxon, Koen Frenken, Mattia Guerini, Francesco Lamperti, Paul Nightingale, Andrea Roventini, Luc Soete, Marco Valente, Simone Vannuccini, Francesco Vona and participants at the following conferences: EMAEE, Workshop on ABM of Environmental Challenges and Climate Policy, SPRU50, Eurkind, ABM in Ecological Economics Workshop, American Association of Geographers, ABM4Policy. This paper is part of Francesco Pasimeni Ph.D. dissertation from SPRU (University of Sussex), and a previous version of this paper appears in the SPRU Working Paper Series. Tommaso Ciarli has benefited from funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 649186 - Project ISIGrowth. The authors report that there are no competing interests to declare.

Keywords

Coalition formation
Innovation diffusion
Shared goods
Local communities
Agent-based model

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Coalition formation and the diffusion of shared goods: An agent-based model

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