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Cooperation and turn taking in finitely-repeated prisoners' dilemmas: An experimental analysis

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  • Sibly, Hugh
  • Tisdell, John

Abstract

In the standard prisoners' dilemma (SPD) cooperation is efficient. In the repeated, modified prisoners' dilemma (MPD) turn taking is efficient. It might be expected that the cooperative preferences exhibited by some agents, which gives rise to cooperation in the finitely repeated SPD, also give rise to turn taking in the finitely repeated MPD. We consider this question theoretically and experimentally. We find experimentally that 50% of participant pairs undertake turn-taking in the finitely repeated MPD. Turn taking continues to the final round for 37.5% of participant pairs, indicating that at least 18% of participant pairs exhibit cooperative preferences. Further, the prevalence of turn taking in the MPD is less than cooperation in the SPD, a finding that is consistent with theoretical predictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Sibly, Hugh & Tisdell, John, 2018. "Cooperation and turn taking in finitely-repeated prisoners' dilemmas: An experimental analysis," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 49-56.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:64:y:2018:i:c:p:49-56
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2017.11.003
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    Cited by:

    1. Demeze-Jouatsa, Ghislain-Herman, 2018. "Repetition and cooperation: A model of finitely repeated games with objective ambiguity," Center for Mathematical Economics Working Papers 585, Center for Mathematical Economics, Bielefeld University.
    2. Kaplan, Todd R. & Ruffle, Bradley J. & Shtudiner, Zeev, 2018. "Cooperation through coordination in two stages," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 206-219.
    3. He, Simin & Wu, Jiabin, 2020. "Compromise and coordination: An experimental study," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 216-233.
    4. Lian Xue & Stefania Sitzia & Theodore L. Turocy, 2022. "Concord and contention in a dynamic unstructured bargaining experiment with costly conflict," Working Paper series, University of East Anglia, Centre for Behavioural and Experimental Social Science (CBESS) 22-02, School of Economics, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK..
    5. Riyanto, Yohanes E. & Roy, Nilanjan, 2019. "Path of intertemporal cooperation and limits to turn-taking behavior," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 21-36.
    6. Xue, Lian & Sitzia, Stefania & Turocy, Theodore L., 2023. "Concord and contention in a dynamic unstructured bargaining experiment with costly conflict," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cooperation; Finitely-repeated prisoners' dilemma; Turn-taking; Laboratory experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games

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