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Reduced normal forms are not extensive forms

Author

Listed:
  • Carlos Alós-Ferrer

    (University of Zurich)

  • Klaus Ritzberger

    (Royal Holloway, University of London)

Abstract

Fundamental results in the theory of extensive form games have singled out the reduced normal form as the key representation of a game in terms of strategic equivalence. In a precise sense, the reduced normal form contains all strategically relevant information. This note shows that a difficulty with the concept has been overlooked so far: given a reduced normal form alone, it may be impossible to reconstruct the game’s extensive form representation.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlos Alós-Ferrer & Klaus Ritzberger, 2020. "Reduced normal forms are not extensive forms," Economic Theory Bulletin, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 8(2), pages 281-288, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:etbull:v:8:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s40505-020-00183-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s40505-020-00183-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Reduced normal forms; Extensive form games;

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games

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