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The isomorphism hypothesis: The prisoner's dilemma as intertemporal allocation, and vice versa

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  • Khalil, Elias L.

Abstract

Economists model the choice of the current self in intertemporal allocation as the outcome of identity: the current and future selves belong to the same decision maker by the sheer fact they reside in the same “biological skin” defined by biological identity. The economists should be consistent and likewise model the choice of each player in the prisoner's dilemma or, generally, the social dilemma as the outcome of identity: the selves of the players belong to the same decision maker by the sheer fact they reside in the same “social skin” defined by social identity. If the economists consider cooperation rather than defection to be the rational strategy of the current self in intertemporal allocations, they should be consistent and consider cooperation rather than defection to be the rational strategy of each player in social dilemmas. Symmetrically, if the economists judge defection rather than cooperation to be the rational strategy in social dilemmas, it behooves them to also judge defection rather than cooperation to be the rational strategy in intertemporal allocations.

Suggested Citation

  • Khalil, Elias L., 2020. "The isomorphism hypothesis: The prisoner's dilemma as intertemporal allocation, and vice versa," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 735-746.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:176:y:2020:i:c:p:735-746
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2018.10.020
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cooperation; Defection; Altruism; Care; Grant (charity); Nash equilibrium;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • B4 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology
    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods

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