Cycles and clustering in bipartite networks

Abstract

We investigate the clustering ability in bipartite networks where cycles of size three are absent and therefore the standard definition of clustering coefficient cannot be used. Instead, we use another coefficient given by the fraction of cycles with size four, showing that both coefficients yield the same clustering properties. The new coefficient is computed for two networks of sexual contacts, one monopartite and another bipartite. In both cases the clustering ability is similar. Furthermore, combining both clustering coefficients we deduce an expression for estimating cycles of larger size, which improves previous estimations and is suitable for either monopartite and multipartite networks.