Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/145453 
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Title: 

Coevolution of cooperation, preferences, and cooperative signals in social dilemmas

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Year of Publication: 
2016
Series/Report no.: 
cege Discussion Papers No. 221 [rev.]
Publisher: 
University of Göttingen, Center for European, Governance and Economic Development Research (cege), Göttingen
Abstract: 
We study the coevolution of cooperation, preferences and cooperative signals in an environment where individuals engage in a signaling-extended prisoner's dilemma. We identify a new type of evolutionary equilibrium - a transitional equilibrium - which is constituted and stabilized by the dynamic interaction of multiple Bayesian equilibria. A transitional equilibrium: (1) exists under mild conditions, and (2) can stabilize a population that is characterized by the heterogeneity of behavior, preferences, and signaling. We thereby offer an explanation for persistent regularities observed in laboratory and field data on cooperative behavior. Furthermore, this type of equilibria is least demanding with respect to differences in signaling costs between 'conditional cooperators' and 'opportunists.' Indeed, and quite surprisingly, a transitional equilibrium is consistent with 'conditional cooperators' bearing higher signaling cost in terms of fitness than 'opportunists.'
Subjects: 
evolutionary game theory
cooperation
signaling
JEL: 
C73
D64
D82
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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The document was removed on behalf of the author(s)/ the editor(s) on: June 13, 2019


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