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Irrationality and ambiguity in extensive games

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  • Stauber, Ronald
Abstract
Based on a model where deviations from equilibrium play are assumed to identify irrational players who are characterized by ambiguous set-valued strategies, this paper introduces an equilibrium notion for extensive games with ambiguity averse players that yields a precise interpretation for the counterfactual reasoning usually associated with backward induction. The resulting equilibria are always Nash equilibria, but may not satisfy the conditions required for various refinements of Nash equilibrium, including those for subgame perfection. Existence of such equilibria is proved for all two-player games, and for N-player games with perfect information.

Suggested Citation

  • Stauber, Ronald, 2017. "Irrationality and ambiguity in extensive games," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 409-432.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:gamebe:v:102:y:2017:i:c:p:409-432
    DOI: 10.1016/j.geb.2017.01.010
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    Cited by:

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    3. Ronald Stauber, 2019. "A strategic product for belief functions," ANU Working Papers in Economics and Econometrics 2019-668, Australian National University, College of Business and Economics, School of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Extensive games; Ambiguity; Maxmin; Backward induction;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

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

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