A refinement of the set of Nash equilibria that satisfies two assumptions is shown to select a subset that is stable in the sense defined by Kohlberg and Mertens. One assumption requires that a selected set is invariant to adjoining redundant strategies and the other is a strong version of backward induction. Backward induction is interpreted as the requirement that each player's strategy is sequentially rational and conditionally admissible at every information set in an extensive-form game with perfect recall, implemented here by requiring that the equilibrium is quasi-perfect. The strong version requires 'truly' quasi-perfection in that each strategy perturbation refines the selection to a quasi-perfect equilibrium in the set. An exact characterization of stable sets is provided for two-player games.
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Article provided by Society for Economic Theory in its journal Theoretical Economics.
Find related papers by JEL classification: C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
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Wilson, Robert B. & Govindan, Srihari, 2007.
"On Forward Induction,"
Research Papers
1955, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
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Srihari Govindan & Robert Wilson, 2006.
"Metastable Equilibria,"
Levine's Bibliography
122247000000001211, UCLA Department of Economics.
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Other versions:
Govindan, Srihari & Wilson, Robert B., 2007.
"Metastable Equilibria,"
Research Papers
1934r, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
[Downloadable!]