Analytic solution of the two-star model with correlated degrees

Exponential random graphs are important to model the structure of real-world complex networks. Here we solve the two-star model with degree-degree correlations in the sparse regime. The model constraints the average correlation between the degrees of adjacent nodes (nearest neighbors) and between the degrees at the end-points of two-stars (next nearest neighbors). We compute exactly the network free energy and show that this model undergoes a first-order transition to a condensed phase. For non-negative degree correlations between next nearest neighbors, the degree distribution inside the condensed phase has a single peak at the largest degree, while for negative degree correlations between next nearest neighbors the condensed phase is characterized by a bimodal degree distribution. We calculate the degree assortativities and show they are non-monotonic functions of the model parameters, with a discontinuous behavior at the first-order transition. The first-order critical line terminates at a second-order critical point, whose location in the phase diagram can be accurately determined. Our results can help to develop more detailed models of complex networks with correlated degrees.