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Conditional cooperation: Type stability across games

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  • Eichenseer, Michael
  • Moser, Johannes

Abstract

To classify cooperation types, a sequential prisoner’s dilemma and a one-shot public goods game are convenient experimental setups. We explore the within subject stability of cooperation preferences in these two games. We find that the prisoner’s dilemma performs well in identifying conditional cooperators while it is only an imperfect tool for identifying selfish types in the public goods game.

Suggested Citation

  • Eichenseer, Michael & Moser, Johannes, 2020. "Conditional cooperation: Type stability across games," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:188:y:2020:i:c:s0165176520300021
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2020.108941
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    Cited by:

    1. Malte Baader & Simon Gaechter & Kyeongtae Lee & Martin Sefton, 2022. "Social preferences and the variability of conditional cooperation," Discussion Papers 2022-13, The Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics, School of Economics, University of Nottingham.
    2. Simon Gaechter & Kyeongtae Lee & Martin Sefton, 2022. "The Variability of Conditional Cooperation in Sequential Prisoner's Dilemmas," Discussion Papers 2022-10, The Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics, School of Economics, University of Nottingham.
    3. Gächter, Simon & Fages, Diego Marino, 2023. "Using the Strategy Method and Elicited Beliefs to Explain Group Size and MPCR Effects in Public Good Experiments," IZA Discussion Papers 16605, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Conditional cooperation; Public goods game; Sequential prisoner’s dilemma; Discrete behavioral types;
    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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