Incideixen

Incideixen is a theoretical concept in complex-systems theory used to describe the propensity of a networked system to produce cascading incidents from localized disturbances. The term denotes a scalar or vector field that indicates the likelihood and potential size of cascades as a function of local stress, node vulnerability, and network connectivity. It is distinguished from simple incident rate by incorporating interaction effects between units and temporal variability.

Origin and usage: The concept was introduced in speculative works and discussions in resilience and risk research in the 2010s, with several researchers referring to incideixen as a metric for cascade risk. It has since been used in modeling studies of power grids, communication networks, urban systems, and financial networks to analyze how small perturbations can escalate under certain structural conditions.

Mechanics: Incideixen can increase when highly connected nodes experience stress or when network topology supports rapid diffusion pathways. In models, a threshold or nonlinear response function converts accumulated incideixen into actual cascading events. The study often examines the effects of heterogeneity, adaptive responses, and time-varying connectivity.

Applications and debate: Proponents argue it provides a focus for resilience interventions, such as targeted hardening or dynamic reconfiguration. Critics note that without consistent empirical definitions, incideixen risks being too abstract for operational use and may depend heavily on model assumptions.

See also: cascading failure, systemic risk, tipping point, percolation theory.