So this little game actually amplifies the distinction between "game theory" and (let's call it) 'relationship theory'. In the former you rely on strategy. In the latter, you rely on established trust.
You run the game once and at the end you are given 'character' headsup on the participants. Next time around playing the same game, you know who is who.
p.s. In effect the distinction can be generalized as 'depth of priors' for the 'bayesian game'.
gowld · 3m ago
Are you talking about "one-off games" vs "repeated games", or something else?
Repeated games are part of "game theory"
ChicagoBoy11 · 38m ago
The Evolution of Cooperation is one of the best non-fiction book I've ever read. Through basic algebra it lets you in on appreciating such a deep and profound idea.
wrboyce · 11m ago
Another great book on the subject is The Joy of Game Theory by Presh Talwalkar.
tiffanyh · 56m ago
Vertasium has a great video talking how Tit-for-Tat (Copycat) wins as a strategy (and how there was a math competition that proved it as well)
Found this ~10 years ago. Still one of the best things i've ever come across on the internet.
xpe · 41m ago
If you want the take-aways, click the next-to-last navigation circle on the bottom of the screen. I won't paste the spoilers here, because I think it would detract the experience.
adi_lancey · 2h ago
this is pretty cool, very nice explanation of concepts I hadn't touched since undergrad econ
daveguy · 1h ago
The simulation didn't cover the problem that the US is having right now -- intentional miscommunication. Unfortunately, there's a reason some countries employ warehouses full of trolls and propaganda spreaders. If you are losing the "game" spreading chaos will level the playing field. It will take the people of those countries to stop their leadership from acting in bad faith before things improve.
This is also the reason some social media outlets have become dystopian hellscapes.
netbioserror · 1h ago
I remember that in older formal game theory tournaments, a punish-once single-retaliation strategy won out. It was unconditional on copying, simply that if the opponent cheated, you cheat back once and then forgive until another cheat. Another form of Golden Rule approach. But I think those tournaments were under simpler conditions than the one here.
I like the incorporation of miscommunication, and being able to change the parameters.
spoiler alert: is copycat strategy the reason united states feels like it's becoming more like the rest of the world, more authoritarian?
yubblegum · 23m ago
The implicit in your q is a negation of the notion of 'social classes'. If you accept the notion of social class (in the political/economical sense) the possibility remains that it is 'theatre' to hoist "authoritarianism" globally over the under classes.
You run the game once and at the end you are given 'character' headsup on the participants. Next time around playing the same game, you know who is who.
p.s. In effect the distinction can be generalized as 'depth of priors' for the 'bayesian game'.
Repeated games are part of "game theory"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mScpHTIi-kM
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This seems like a nice rebuild of the math competition performed years ago (as talked about in the video link above).
Direct link to that part of the video: https://youtu.be/mScpHTIi-kM?si=yzZxyeYw4cJA-i37&t=583
This is also the reason some social media outlets have become dystopian hellscapes.
I like the incorporation of miscommunication, and being able to change the parameters.