Journal of Economic Literature
ISSN 0022-0515 (Print) | ISSN 2328-8175 (Online)
On the Determinants of Cooperation in Infinitely Repeated Games: A Survey
Journal of Economic Literature
vol. 56,
no. 1, March 2018
(pp. 60–114)
Abstract
A growing experimental literature studies the determinants of cooperation in infinitely repeated games, tests different predictions of the theory, and suggests an empirical solution to the problem of multiple equilibria. To provide a robust description of the literature's findings, we gather and analyze a metadata set of experiments on infinitely repeated prisoner's dilemma games. The experimental data show that cooperation is affected by infinite repetition and is more likely to arise when it can be supported in equilibrium. However, the fact that cooperation can be supported in equilibrium does not imply that most subjects will cooperate. High cooperation rates will emerge only when the parameters of the repeated game are such that cooperation is very robust to strategic uncertainty. We also review the results regarding the effect of imperfect monitoring, changing partners, and personal characteristics on cooperation and the strategies used to support it.Citation
Dal Bó, Pedro, and Guillaume R. Fréchette. 2018. "On the Determinants of Cooperation in Infinitely Repeated Games: A Survey." Journal of Economic Literature, 56 (1): 60–114. DOI: 10.1257/jel.20160980Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- C71 Cooperative Games
- C73 Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games; Repeated Games
- D81 Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
- D83 Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness