How does homophily shape the topology of a dynamic network?

We thank Andrew Mellor for substantive input, as well as Kevin Bassler and Henk Hilhorst for helpful discussions. The support of a joint Ph.D. studentship of the Chinese Scholarship Council and University of Leeds to X.L. is gratefully acknowledged (Grant No. 201803170212). We are also grateful to the London Mathematical Society (Grant No. 41712) and Leeds School of Mathematics for their financial support, and R.K.P.Z. is thankful to the Leeds School of Mathematics for their hospitality at an early stage of this collaboration.

Automated summary

The authors express gratitude to Andrew Mellor, Kevin Bassler, and Henk Hilhorst for input and discussions, as well as the Chinese Scholarship Council and University of Leeds for supporting X.L.'s joint Ph.D. studentship. Financial support from the London Mathematical Society and Leeds School of Mathematics is acknowledged, and R.K.P.Z. appreciates the hospitality from Leeds School of Mathematics at the start of the collaboration.