Preferential attachment

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"To him that hath shall be given." - from Matthew, the Bible

In a system that runs a preferential attachment process, a new connection has a tendency to connect with already well-connected connections. Over time, a small number of hubs - clusters of well-connected connections - dominate the system.

This is how the world works. Some startup hubs, financial centres and touristic hotspots have been able to expand their dominance for decades. The same happens on a smaller scale in corporations, parties and other entities.

Connected nodes

Any innovative project or business venture may maintain non-linear growth as long as it manages to attract preferential attachment.