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Dynamic Winner-take-all Conflict

Author

Listed:
  • John W. Maxwell

    (Department of Business Economics and Public Policy, Indiana University Kelley School of Business)

  • Rafael Reuveny

    (School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University)

  • Jefferson Davis

    (Stat-Math, Indiana University)

Abstract

This paper develops a model of dynamic conflict featuring probabilistic winner- take-all outcomes and compares its behavior to a model in which combatants emerge with a share of the conflict spoils. While these two models generate the same behavior in a one-shot game, we find that in a repeated conflict setting the winner-take-all model generates richer dynamics than the dynamics generated by the share model. Differences include outcomes that illustrate the rise and fall of great powers, the endogenous extinction of combatants, and frequent changes in the relative dominance of combatants. The model's behavior is compared to real world military, business and political conflict outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • John W. Maxwell & Rafael Reuveny & Jefferson Davis, 2007. "Dynamic Winner-take-all Conflict," Working Papers 2007-12, Indiana University, Kelley School of Business, Department of Business Economics and Public Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:iuk:wpaper:2007-12
    as

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    File URL: http://kelley.iu.edu/riharbau/RePEc/iuk/wpaper/bepp2007-12-maxwell-reuveny-davis.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Anarchy; Fog of War; Paradox of Power; Winner-take-all conflict;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • Q20 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - General

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