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The rise of cooperation in correlated matching prisoners dilemma: An experiment

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  • Chun-Lei Yang
  • Ching-Syang Jack Yue
  • I-Tang Yu

Abstract

Recently, there has been a Renaissance for multi-level selection models to explain the persistence of unselfish behavior in social dilemmas, in which assortative/correlated matching plays an important role. In the current study of a multi-round prisoners’ dilemma experiment, we introduce two correlated matching procedures that match subjects with similar action histories together. We discover significant treatment effects, compared to the control procedure of random matching. Particularly with the weighted history matching procedure we find bifurcations regarding group outcomes. Some groups converge to the all-defection equilibrium even more pronouncedly than the control groups do, while other groups generate much higher rate of cooperation, which is also associated with higher relative reward for a typical cooperative action. All in all, the data show that cooperation does have a much better chance to persist in a correlated/assortative-matching environment, as predicted in the literature. Copyright Economic Science Association 2007

Suggested Citation

  • Chun-Lei Yang & Ching-Syang Jack Yue & I-Tang Yu, 2007. "The rise of cooperation in correlated matching prisoners dilemma: An experiment," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 10(1), pages 3-20, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:expeco:v:10:y:2007:i:1:p:3-20
    DOI: 10.1007/s10683-006-9139-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Hanjoon Michael Jung, 2012. "Ability-based Cooperation in a Prisoner’s Dilemma Game," Korean Economic Review, Korean Economic Association, vol. 28, pages 137-160.
    2. repec:ebl:ecbull:v:30:y:2010:i:1:p:414-420 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Chun-Lei Yang & Jack Yue, 2010. "Assortative Matching, Information and Cooperation: An Experiment," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 30(1), pages 414-420.
    4. Gong, Binglin & Yang, Chun-Lei, 2019. "Cooperation through indirect reciprocity: The impact of higher-order history," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 316-341.
    5. Charness, Gary & Yang, Chun-Lei, 2014. "Starting small toward voluntary formation of efficient large groups in public goods provision," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 119-132.
    6. Attanasi, Giuseppe Marco & Garcia-Gallego, Aurora & Georgantzis, Nikolaos & Montesano, Aldo, 2011. "An Experiment on Prisoner’s Dilemma with Confirmed Proposals," TSE Working Papers 11-274, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE).
    7. Attanasi, Giuseppe & Garcia-Gallego, Aurora & Georgantzis, Nikolaos & Montesano, Aldo, 2011. "An Experiment on Prisoner’s Dilemma with Confirmed Proposals," LERNA Working Papers 11.23.357, LERNA, University of Toulouse.
    8. Richard Arend, 2023. "Testing Behaviors in the Play of an Expected Prisoner's Dilemma," Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics (SABE), vol. 7(1), pages 25-33, November.
    9. Andrea Robbett, 2016. "Community dynamics in the lab," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 46(3), pages 543-568, March.
    10. Rivas, Javier, 2013. "Cooperation, imitation and partial rematching," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 148-162.

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