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Learning by replicator and best-response: the importance of being indifferent

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  • Sofia B. S. D. Castro

    (Universidade do Porto)

Abstract

This paper compares two learning processes, namely those generated by replicator and best-response dynamics, from the point of view of the asymptotics of play. We base our study on the intersection of the basins of attraction of locally stable pure Nash equilibria for replicator and best-response dynamics. Local stability implies that the basin of attraction has positive measure but there are examples where the intersection of the basin of attraction for replicator and best-response dynamics is arbitrarily small. We provide conditions, involving the existence of an unstable interior Nash equilibrium, for the basins of attraction of any locally stable pure Nash equilibrium under replicator and best-response dynamics to intersect in a set of positive measure. Hence, for any choice of initial conditions in sets of positive measure, if a pure Nash equilibrium is locally stable, the outcome of learning under either procedure coincides. We provide examples illustrating the above, including some for which the basins of attraction exactly coincide for both learning dynamics. We explore the role that indifference sets play in the coincidence of the basins of attraction of the stable Nash equilibria.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia B. S. D. Castro, 2018. "Learning by replicator and best-response: the importance of being indifferent," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 985-999, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joevec:v:28:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s00191-017-0547-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s00191-017-0547-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Boyu Zhang & Josef Hofbauer, 2015. "Equilibrium selection via replicator dynamics in $$2 \times 2$$ 2 × 2 coordination games," International Journal of Game Theory, Springer;Game Theory Society, vol. 44(2), pages 433-448, May.
    2. Josef Hofbauer & Sylvain Sorin & Yannick Viossat, 2009. "Time Average Replicator and Best-Reply Dynamics," Mathematics of Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 34(2), pages 263-269, May.
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    4. Russell Golman & Scott Page, 2010. "Basins of attraction and equilibrium selection under different learning rules," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 49-72, January.
    5. Russell Golman & Scott Page, 2010. "Basins of attraction and equilibrium selection under different learning rules," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 73-75, January.
    6. Todd Evans (ed.), 2010. "Nonlinear Dynamics," Books, IntechOpen, number 344.
    7. Matsui, Akihiko, 1992. "Best response dynamics and socially stable strategies," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 57(2), pages 343-362, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Best-response dynamics; Replicator dynamics; Learning; Basin of attraction;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games

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