Brinkmanship on the Commons: A Laboratory Experiment Related to African Pulaar Herders

Heterogeneous forage utilization by free ranging livestock in Senegal have been observed. This research addresses the changes in production practices and short run strategic implications of remittance investment in livestock. The resulting model is one of brinksmanship leading to a war-of-attrition over resource use. Laboratory experiments demonstrate heterogeneous outcomes ranging from cooperative economically efficient to heavier exploitation of the resource. Though consistent with the findings from past long run analyses, these results are largely due to mixed strategies and behavioral attributes, such as assertive and aggressive behaviors not previously identified.