We provide an analytic theory to explain Anghel et al.’s recent numerical finding whereby a maximum in the global performance emerges for a sparsely connected competitive population [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 058701 (2004)]. We show that the effect originates in the highly correlated dynamics of strategy choice, and can be significantly enhanced using a simple modification to the model.

• Received 7 September 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.71.050101