Final answer:
In the context of disease spread, 'g' represents the growth rate of a population, which can be positive, negative, or zero. The exact source of the equation for the rate of infection mentioned in the passage is not provided.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the complex network model for disease spread, the term 'g' represents the growth rate of the population. The value of 'g' can be positive, indicating an increasing population size; negative, indicating a decreasing population size; or zero, indicating a population size that is unchanging (zero population growth). 'g' accounts for the difference between the birth rate and death rate in a population.
The exact source of the equation for the rate of infection (r=τ(n−2)−g) mentioned in the passage is not provided in the given information. It is advisable to consult additional resources or research papers to find the specific source for this equation.