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Pure Nash Equilibria and Best-Response Dynamics in Random Games

Author

Listed:
  • Ben Amiet
  • Andrea Collevecchio
  • Marco Scarsini
  • Ziwen Zhong

Abstract

In finite games mixed Nash equilibria always exist, but pure equilibria may fail to exist. To assess the relevance of this nonexistence, we consider games where the payoffs are drawn at random. In particular, we focus on games where a large number of players can each choose one of two possible strategies, and the payoffs are i.i.d. with the possibility of ties. We provide asymptotic results about the random number of pure Nash equilibria, such as fast growth and a central limit theorem, with bounds for the approximation error. Moreover, by using a new link between percolation models and game theory, we describe in detail the geometry of Nash equilibria and show that, when the probability of ties is small, a best-response dynamics reaches a Nash equilibrium with a probability that quickly approaches one as the number of players grows. We show that a multitude of phase transitions depend only on a single parameter of the model, that is, the probability of having ties.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben Amiet & Andrea Collevecchio & Marco Scarsini & Ziwen Zhong, 2019. "Pure Nash Equilibria and Best-Response Dynamics in Random Games," Papers 1905.10758, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2020.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:1905.10758
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Guillaume Garnier & Bruno Ziliotto, 2023. "Percolation Games," Mathematics of Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 48(4), pages 2156-2166, November.
    2. Ben Amiet & Andrea Collevecchio & Kais Hamza, 2020. "When "Better" is better than "Best"," Papers 2011.00239, arXiv.org.
    3. Tom Johnston & Michael Savery & Alex Scott & Bassel Tarbush, 2023. "Game Connectivity and Adaptive Dynamics," Papers 2309.10609, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2026.
    4. J'anos Flesch & Arkadi Predtetchinski & Ville Suomala, 2021. "Random perfect information games," Papers 2104.10528, arXiv.org.
    5. Pangallo, Marco & Heinrich, Torsten & Jang, Yoojin & Scott, Alex & Tarbush, Bassel & Wiese, Samuel & Mungo, Luca, 2021. "Best-Response Dynamics, Playing Sequences, And Convergence To Equilibrium In Random Games," INET Oxford Working Papers 2021-23, Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford.
    6. Torsten Heinrich & Yoojin Jang & Luca Mungo & Marco Pangallo & Alex Scott & Bassel Tarbush & Samuel Wiese, 2021. "Best-response dynamics, playing sequences, and convergence to equilibrium in random games," Papers 2101.04222, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2022.
    7. Andrea Collevecchio & Tuan-Minh Nguyen & Ziwen Zhong, 2024. "Finding pure Nash equilibria in large random games," Papers 2406.09732, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2024.
    8. Mimun, Hlafo Alfie & Quattropani, Matteo & Scarsini, Marco, 2024. "Best-response dynamics in two-person random games with correlated payoffs," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 239-262.
    9. Torsten Heinrich & Yoojin Jang & Luca Mungo & Marco Pangallo & Alex Scott & Bassel Tarbush & Samuel Wiese, 2023. "Best-response dynamics, playing sequences, and convergence to equilibrium in random games," International Journal of Game Theory, Springer;Game Theory Society, vol. 52(3), pages 703-735, September.
    10. Felipe, Lucas Lopes & Avrachenkov, Konstantin & Menasché, Daniel Sadoc, 2025. "From Leiden to Pleasure Island: The Constant Potts Model for community detection as a hedonic game," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 680(C).

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