Throughout history, networks have served as the foundation for connecting humans to one another and their activities. Roads were laid, bridges built, and waterways crossed so that humans, be they on foot, on animal, or vehicle could traverse physical distance. The airways were conquered through flight. Communications, in turn, were conducted using the available means of the period, from smoke signals, drum beats, and pigeons, to the telegraph, telephone, and computer networks of today. 1 We live in an era in which the freedom to choose is weighted by the immensity of the number of choices and possibilities: Where should one live?. | Network Economics An Introduction Anna Nagurney Isenberg School of Management University of Massachusetts Amherst MA 01003 02002 Throughout history networks have served as the foundation for connecting humans to one another and their activities. Roads were laid bridges built and waterways crossed so that humans be they on foot on animal or vehicle could traverse physical distance. The airways were conquered through flight. Communications in turn were conducted using the available means of the period from smoke signals drum beats and pigeons to the telegraph telephone and computer networks of today. 1 We live in an era in which the freedom to choose is weighted by the immensity of the number of choices and possibilities Where should one live Where should one work And when How should one travel Or communicate And with whom Where should one shop And how