# Reputation as a Solution to Cooperation Collapse in LLM-based MASs

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.05029 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.05029/

## Key facts

- Cited by 8 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 11 of its 60 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 8 May 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 11 of 11)

- [Generative Agents: Interactive Simulacra of Human Behavior](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.03442/) (2023)
- [The Rise and Potential of Large Language Model Based Agents: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.07864/) (2023)
- [S3: Social-network Simulation System with Large Language Model-Empowered Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.14984/) (2023)
- [Simulating Opinion Dynamics with Networks of LLM-based Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2311.09618/) (2023)
- [Cooperate or Collapse: Emergence of Sustainable Cooperation in a Society of LLM Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.16698/) (2024)
- [From Individual to Society: A Survey on Social Simulation Driven by Large Language Model-based Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.03563/) (2024)
- [Strategic Reasoning with Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.19165/) (2023)
- [Emergence of Social Norms in Generative Agent Societies: Principles and Architecture](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.08251/) (2024)
- [ALYMPICS: LLM Agents Meet Game Theory -- Exploring Strategic Decision-Making with AI Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2311.03220/) (2023)
- [Cooperation and Reputation Dynamics with Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.07523/) (2021)
- [Multi-Agent, Human-Agent and Beyond: A Survey on Cooperation in Social Dilemmas](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.17270/) (2024)

## Built on by (most cited first, 8 of 8)

- [Virtual Agent Economies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.10147/) (2025)
- [Dissociative Identity: Language Model Agents Lack Grounding for Reputation Mechanisms](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.30169/) (2026)
- [AgentCity: Constitutional Governance for Autonomous Agent Economies via Separation of Power](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.07007/) (2026)
- [Distributed General-Purpose Agent Networks: Architecture, Key Mechanisms, and Prototypes](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.17368/) (2026)
- [FedStrategist: A Meta-Learning Framework for Adaptive and Robust Aggregation in Federated Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.14322/) (2025)
- [From Certain Doom to Survival: Agent-Driven Self-Governance in LLM Agent Societies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.22600/) (2026)
- [MiniRep: Robust Reputation-Based Aggregation for Multi-Agent Debate](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.39297/) (2026)
- [Identity, Incentives, and Cooperative Behavior for AI: Reverse-Engineering Multiagent Cooperation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2610.19188/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Cooperation has long been a fundamental topic in both human society and AI systems. However, recent studies indicate that the collapse of cooperation may emerge in multi-agent systems (MASs) driven by large language models (LLMs). To address this challenge, we explore reputation systems as a remedy. We propose RepuNet, a dynamic, dual-level reputation framework that models both agent-level reputation dynamics and system-level network evolution. Specifically, driven by direct interactions and indirect gossip, agents form reputations for both themselves and their peers, and decide whether to connect or disconnect other agents for future interactions. Through three distinct scenarios, we show that RepuNet effectively avoids cooperation collapse, promoting and sustaining cooperation in LLM-based MASs. Moreover, we find that reputation systems can give rise to rich emergent behaviors in LLM-based MASs, such as the formation of cooperative clusters, the social isolation of exploitative agents, and the preference for sharing positive gossip rather than negative ones. The GitHub repository for our project can be accessed via the following link: https://github.com/RGB-0000FF/RepuNet.