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Incomplete Information Games with Ambiguity Averse Players

Author

Listed:
  • Eran Hanany

    (Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University)

  • Peter Klibanoff

    (Department of Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences, Kellogg School of Management, North-western University)

  • Sujoy Mukerji

    (Queen Mary University of London)

Abstract

We study incomplete information games with ambiguity averse players. Our focus is on equilibrium concepts satisfying sequential optimality each player's strategy is optimal at each information set given opponents' strategies. We show sequential optimality, which does not make any explicit assumption on updating, is equivalent to sequential optimality with respect to beliefs updated using a particular generalization of Bayesian updating. Ambiguity aversion expands the set of equilibria compatible with players sharing common ambiguous beliefs. We connect ambiguity aversion with belief robustness. Examples illustrate new strategic behaviour, including strategic use of ambiguity, under ambiguity aversion.

Suggested Citation

  • Eran Hanany & Peter Klibanoff & Sujoy Mukerji, 2018. "Incomplete Information Games with Ambiguity Averse Players," Working Papers 868, Queen Mary University of London, School of Economics and Finance.
    • Handle: RePEc:qmw:qmwecw:868
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    Cited by:

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    2. Bauch, Gerrit & Riedel, Frank, 2024. "The Texas Shoot-Out under Knightian uncertainty," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 35-50.
    3. Xiaoyu Cheng, 2020. "Ambiguous Persuasion: An Ex-Ante Formulation," Papers 2010.05376, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2023.
    4. Spyros Galanis, 2021. "Dynamic consistency, valuable information and subjective beliefs," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 71(4), pages 1467-1497, June.
    5. Laohakunakorn, Krittanai & Levy, Gilat & Razin, Ronny, 2019. "Private and common value auctions with ambiguity over correlation," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    6. Galanis, S. & Ioannou, C. & Kotronis, S., 2019. "Information Aggregation Under Ambiguity: Theory and Experimental Evidence," Working Papers 20/05, Department of Economics, City University London.
    7. Pahlke, Marieke, 2022. "Dynamic consistency in incomplete information games with multiple priors," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 85-108.
    8. Auster, Sarah & Kellner, Christian, 2022. "Robust bidding and revenue in descending price auctions," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    9. Kishishita, Daiki, 2020. "(Not) delegating decisions to experts: The effect of uncertainty," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    10. Gerrit Bauch & Frank Riedel, 2022. "The Texas Shootout under Uncertainty," Papers 2211.10089, arXiv.org.
    11. Battigalli, P. & Catonini, E. & Lanzani, G. & Marinacci, M., 2019. "Ambiguity attitudes and self-confirming equilibrium in sequential games," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 1-29.
    12. Brishti Guha, 2020. "Revisiting the volunteer's dilemma: group size and public good provision in the presence of some ambiguity aversion," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 40(2), pages 1308-1318.
    13. Colo, Philippe, 2021. "Expert-based Knowledge: Communicating over Scientific Models," MPRA Paper 110434, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Yang Hao, 2023. "Financial Market with Learning from Price under Knightian Uncertainty," Working Papers hal-03686748, HAL.
    15. Richard J. Arend, 2022. "Strategic decision-making under ambiguity: insights from exploring a simple linked two-game model," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 5845-5861, November.
    16. Calford, Evan M., 2021. "Mixed strategies and preference for randomization in games with ambiguity averse agents," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    17. Evan M. Calford & Gregory DeAngelo, 2023. "Ambiguity and enforcement," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 26(2), pages 304-338, April.
    18. Laohakunakorn, Krittanai & Levy, Gilat & Razin, Ronny, 2019. "Private and common value auctions with ambiguity over correlation," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101410, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ambiguity aversion; dynamic games; incomplete information; multi-stage games; sequential optimality; sequential equilibrium with ambiguity; ambiguous strategies; smooth ambiguity model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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