Rumor propagation model: an equilibrium study (Q980632)

Summary: Compartmental epidemiological models have been developed since the 1920s and successfully applied to study the propagation of infectious diseases. Besides, due to their structure, in the 1960s an interesting version of these models was developed to clarify some aspects of rumor propagation, considering that spreading of infectious diseases or disseminating information are analogous phenomena. Here, in an analogy with SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Removed) epidemiological models, the ISS (Ignorant-Spreader-Stifler) rumor spreading model is studied. By using concepts from dynamical systems theory, the stability of equilibrium points is established, according to the propagation of the parameters and initial conditions. Some numerical experiments are conducted in order to validate the model.