We consider local leaders in random uncorrelated networks, i.e., nodes whose degree is higher than or equal to the degree of all their neighbors. An analytical expression is found for the probability for a node of degree $k$ to be a local leader. This quantity is shown to exhibit a transition from a situation where high-degree nodes are local leaders to a situation where they are not, when the tail of the degree distribution behaves like the power law $\sim k^{-{\gamma }_c}$ with ${\gamma }_c=3$. Theoretical results are verified by computer simulations, and the importance of finite-size effects is discussed.

• Received 27 July 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.77.036114