Preferential exchange: Strengthening connections in complex networks

A simple mechanism based on positive feedback and reciprocity, that can explain the observed behavior and hint towards the formation and reinforcement of network connections were analyzed. The strength of the structure of networks are normally difficult to measure but in e-mail network, a suitable measure of the strength of connections were available. The model was based on preferential exchange ingredient, reproduced the data for the behavior of the data for large range of parameter values. The network data obtained from contexts different from social sciences indicated that the power-law and the broad distributions of the connection strength are ubiquitous and the observed mechanism has a wide range of applicability.