Arbeitspapier
Cooperation in an Overlapping Generations Experiment
Recent theoretical work shows that folk theorems can be developed for infiniteoverlapping generations games. Cooperation in such games can be sustained as aNash equilibrium. Besides the efficient cooperative equilibrium there is alsothe inefficient non-cooperative equilibrium. This paper investigatesexperimentally whether cooperation actually occurs in a simple overlappinggenerations game. Subjects both play the game and formulate full strategies. Inour base-line treatment subjects fail to exploit the intertemporal structure ofthe game. When we provide subjects with a recommendation to play a (subgameperfect) grim trigger strategy, a substantial part of the population developstrigger-like strategies. However, a remaining group of unconditional defectorsprevents the cooperative outcome to evolve.
- Language
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Englisch
- Bibliographic citation
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Series: Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper ; No. 99-019/1
- Classification
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Wirtschaft
Noncooperative Games
Design of Experiments: Laboratory, Group Behavior
Micro-Based Behavioral Economics: General‡
- Subject
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overlapping generations
cooperation
trigger strategies
experiments
Overlapping Generations
Kooperatives Spiel
Test
Theorie
- Event
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Geistige Schöpfung
- (who)
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Offerman, Theo
Verbon, Jan PottersHarry A.A.
Verbon, Harry A.A.
- Event
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Veröffentlichung
- (who)
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Tinbergen Institute
- (where)
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Amsterdam and Rotterdam
- (when)
-
1999
- Handle
- Last update
-
10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET
Data provider
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Object type
- Arbeitspapier
Associated
- Offerman, Theo
- Verbon, Jan PottersHarry A.A.
- Verbon, Harry A.A.
- Tinbergen Institute
Time of origin
- 1999