Nonequilibrium phase transition in a model for social influence

We present extensive numerical simulations of the Axelrod's model for socia l influence, aimed at understanding the formation of cultural domains. This is a nonequilibrium model with short range interactions and a remarkably r ich dynamical behavior. We study the phase diagram of the model and uncover a nonequilibrium phase transition separating an ordered (culturally polari zed) phase from a disordered (culturally fragmented) one. The nature of the phase transition can be continuous or discontinuous depending on the model parameters. At the transition, the size of cultural regions is power-law d istributed.