CONTACTS WITH AGREEMENTS - TOWARDS FACE-TO-FACE COMMUNICATION MODELING

In this paper a random matching model is elaborated to characterize bi lateral interregional human face-to-face contacts. The bilateral conta cts can be realized only when both parties agree to meet each other. T hus, mutual agreement is the core of our contact modeling. Spatial dis tribution of bilateral contacts can be described as the results of ran dom matching by potential meeting partners. The failure in agreement o f meeting is the major source of inefficiency in human contacts among regions. The paper provides a random matching scheme to describe the g eneration mechanism of inter-regional human contacts. The paper conclu des by illustrating some numerical examples showing how changes in tra nsportation costs can modify the inter-regional interactability in ter ms of the face-to-face contacts.