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Game Harmony as a Predictor of Cooperation in 2 x 2 Games

Author

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  • Daniel John Zizzo
  • Jonathan H.W. Tan

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental test of the relationship between game harmony and cooperation in 2 x 2 games. Game harmony measures describe how harmonious (non-conflictual) or disharmonious (conflictual) the interests of players are, as embodied in the payoffs: coordination games and constant-sum games are examples of games of perfect harmony and disharmony, respectively, with most games being somewhere in the middle. In our experiment we consider a variety of 2 x 2 games, including amongst others the Prisoner`s Dilemma, the Stag-Hunt, the Chicken, a coordination game and three variants of trust games. We find that simple game harmony measures can explain 2/3 (or more) or the variance in mean cooperation rate across these games.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel John Zizzo & Jonathan H.W. Tan, 2002. "Game Harmony as a Predictor of Cooperation in 2 x 2 Games," Economics Series Working Papers 117, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:oxf:wpaper:117
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    File URL: https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:2e84540a-1597-4e89-978c-1e5ab90209b1
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Alessandra Smerilli, 2012. "We-thinking and vacillation between frames: filling a gap in Bacharach’s theory," Theory and Decision, Springer, vol. 73(4), pages 539-560, October.
    2. Tan, Jonathan H.W. & Zizzo, Daniel John, 2008. "Groups, cooperation and conflict in games," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Smerilli, Alessandra, 2008. "We-thinking and 'double-crossing': frames, reasoning and equilibria," MPRA Paper 11545, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    game harmony; cooperation; 2 x 2 games; trust games; social dilemmas.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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