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Instrumental reciprocity as an error

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  • Reuben, E.
  • Suetens, Sigrid

    (Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management)

Abstract

We study the strategies used by experimental subjects in repeated sequential prisoners’ dilemma games to identify the underlying motivations behind instrumental reciprocity, that is, reciprocation of cooperation only if there is future interaction. Importantly, we designed the games so that instrumental reciprocity is a mistake for payoff-maximizing individuals irrespective of their beliefs. We find that, despite the fact that instrumental reciprocity is suboptimal, it is one of the most frequently used cooperative strategies. Moreover, although the use of instrumental reciprocity is sensitive to the costs of deviating from the payoff-maximizing strategy, these costs alone cannot explain the high frequency with which subjects choose to reciprocate instrumentally.
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  • Reuben, E. & Suetens, Sigrid, 2018. "Instrumental reciprocity as an error," Other publications TiSEM bb75c476-bc08-4d64-b1b0-5, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    • Handle: RePEc:tiu:tiutis:bb75c476-bc08-4d64-b1b0-5275c245a423
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    Cited by:

    1. Heufer, Jan & van Bruggen, Paul & Yang, Jingni, 2020. "Giving According to Agreement," Discussion Paper 2020-035, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    2. Ghidoni, Riccardo & Cleave, Blair L. & Suetens, Sigrid, 2019. "Perfect and imperfect strangers in social dilemmas," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 148-159.
    3. Mermer, Ayşe Gül & Müller, Wieland & Suetens, Sigrid, 2021. "Cooperation in infinitely repeated games of strategic complements and substitutes," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 1191-1205.

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