Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/35405 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 4107
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We use a novel experimental design to disentangle strategically- and non-strategically-motivated cooperation. By using contingent responses in a repeated sequential prisoners' dilemma with a known probabilistic end, we differentiate end-game behavior from continuation behavior within individuals while controlling for expectations. This design allows us to determine the extent to which strategically-cooperating individuals are responsible for the so-called end-game effect. Experiments with two different subject pools indicate that the most common motive for cooperation in repeated games is strategic and that the extent to which end-game effects are driven by strategically-cooperating individuals depends on the profitability of cooperation.
Subjects: 
Reputation building
strong reciprocity
conditional cooperation
strategic cooperation
JEL: 
C91
D01
D74
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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