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Four Costly Signaling Mechanisms

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  • QUEK, KAI

Abstract

Two mechanisms of costly signaling are known in international relations: sinking costs and tying hands. I show that there exist four mechanisms of costly signaling that are equally general. I develop the new mechanisms of installment costs and reducible costs and contrast them with sunk costs and tied-hands costs. I then conduct experiments to test the four signaling mechanisms. I find that each mechanism can improve credibility when the costs are high, but reducible costs can improve credibility even when the costs are low.

Suggested Citation

  • Quek, Kai, 2021. "Four Costly Signaling Mechanisms," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 115(2), pages 537-549, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:115:y:2021:i:2:p:537-549_13
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    Cited by:

    1. Stephane Wolton, 2024. "Decentralised information transmission in the shadow of conflict," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 36(1), pages 64-82, January.
    2. Yaohui Wang, 2023. "A blessing or a curse? China’s Arctic involvement and its environmental policy to prevent further climatic change and pollution," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 176(8), pages 1-19, August.

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