The Economics of Networks and Behaviours in Online Gaming

This thesis explores how social connections influence individual behaviour using data from an online video game platform. It consists of three separate studies: Chapter 1 examines how a person's social network affects their purchasing decisions; Chapter 2 investigates how displaying skill attracts new friends; and Chapter 3 revisits purchasing decisions, analysing how social stigma limits a person's options. Together, these studies provide insight on the dynamic of social networks and individual behaviour in an online context.