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Selection Criteria in Coordination Games: Some Experimental Results

Author

Listed:
  • Tom Ross

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Russell Cooper

    (Hoover Institution, Stanford University and College of Business Administration, University of Iowa)

  • Douglas V. DeJong

    (Colllege of Business Administration, University of Iowa)

  • Robert Forsythe

    (Colllege of Business Administration, University of Iowa)

Abstract

We study the selection of an equilibrium for coordination games: symmetric, simultaneous move, complete information games which have multiple, Pareto-ranked Nash equilibria. We design and experiment to explore regularities in the observed outcomes for this class of games. With replication, we find that the Nash equilibrium concept accurately predicts the strategies chosen by players in these games. However, the equilibrium outcome is not always the Pareto-dominant equilibrium so that coordination failures can arise. Moreover, we find that altering the payoffs of a dominated strategy can influence the selection of a Nash equilibrium. Our results are consistent with a modified version of Harsanyi's tracing procedure in which players initially place some positive probability that their opponent is a cooperative player even though the cooperative strategy may be dominated by another strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Tom Ross & Russell Cooper & Douglas V. DeJong & Robert Forsythe, 1987. "Selection Criteria in Coordination Games: Some Experimental Results," Carleton Industrial Organization Research Unit (CIORU) 87-04, Carleton University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:car:ciorup:87-04
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