Prisoner’s dilemma: Difference between revisions

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{{prisonersdilemmatable}}
{{prisonersdilemmatable}}
An exercise in calculating economic outcomes by means of {{tag|metaphor}}.
An exercise in calculating economic outcomes by means of {{tag|metaphor}}.  
 
Two people are  charged with a conspiracy<ref>Whether or not they are guilty is beside the point. If it helps you empathise with their predicament, assume they’re innocent</ref>.  Each is held separately. They cannot communicate. There  is enough evidence to convict both on a lesser charge, but not the main charge. Each prisoner is separately offered the same plea bargain. The offer is:
Two people are  charged with a conspiracy<ref>Whether or not they are guilty is beside the point. If it helps you empathise with their predicament, assume they’re innocent</ref>.  Each is held separately. They cannot communicate. There  is enough evidence to convict both on a lesser charge, but not the main charge. Each prisoner is separately offered the same plea bargain. The offer is:
*If A informs B but B refuses to inform on A:
*If A informs B but B refuses to inform on A:
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**A will get 1 year in prison  (on the lesser charge).
**A will get 1 year in prison  (on the lesser charge).
**B will get 1 year in prison (on the lesser charge).
**B will get 1 year in prison (on the lesser charge).
The [[prisoner’s dilemma]] is a thought process which replicates the incentives present when participants buy or sell in the market.


===[[single round prisoner’s dilemma]]===
===[[single round prisoner’s dilemma]]===
If you play this game in isolation the payoff is grim:
If you play this game in isolation the payoff is grim: if you cooperate you get reamed. Your best interest is in informing on the other guy, because ''his'' best interest is in forming on ''you''.


This look


{{seealso}}  
{{seealso}}