Testing, Voluntary Social Distancing, and the Spread of an Infection
summary
A game-theory model links individual social activity xi∈[0,1] to a random contact network (edge prob ∝ xi xj) and a discrete-time independent-cascade infection process; tests are allocated by probabilities αL, αH across two agent types. Main claims: greater testing is non‑monotone for infections because testing raises voluntary activity and creates mixed‑strategy equilibria where infections rise for the lower‑value type; the welfare‑maximizing testing plan can leave capacity unused, but imposing caps on activity (mandatory distancing) restores full use and improves outcomes.
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