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When and how the punishment must fit the crime

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  • Mailath, George J.
  • Nocke, Volker
  • White, Lucy

Abstract

In repeated normal-form (simultaneous-move) games, simple penal codes (Abreu,1986, 1988) permit an elegant characterization of the set of subgame-perfect outcomes. We show that the logic of simple penal codes fails in repeated extensive-form games. By means of examples, we identify two types of settings in which a subgame-perfect outcome may be supported only by a profile with the property that the continuation play after a deviation is tailored not only to the identity of the deviator, but also to the nature of the deviation.

Suggested Citation

  • Mailath, George J. & Nocke, Volker & White, Lucy, 2015. "When and how the punishment must fit the crime," Working Papers 15-04, University of Mannheim, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mnh:wpaper:37483
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    3. Emilio Bisetti & Benjamin Tengelsen & Ariel Zetlin‐Jones, 2022. "Moral Hazard In Remote Teams," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 63(4), pages 1595-1623, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Simple Penal Code ; Subgame Perfect Equilibrium ; Repeated Extensive Game ; Optimal Punishment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C70 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - General
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games

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