Asymptotics for sparse exponential random graph models

Abstract

We study the asymptotics for sparse exponential random graph models where the parameters may depend on the number of vertices of the graph. We obtain exact estimates for the mean and variance of the limiting probability distribution and the limiting log partition function of the edge-(single)-star model. They are in sharp contrast to the corresponding asymptotics in dense exponential random graph models. Similar analysis is done for directed sparse exponential random graph models parametrized by edges and multiple outward stars.