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How to preempt attacks in multi-front conflict with limited resources

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  • Konrad, Kai A.
  • Morath, Florian

Abstract

We study equilibrium in a multi-battle attack-and-defense game in which victory in each single battle is deterministically awarded to the player who expends more conflict resources in the respective battle. One player has a pre-determined budget which can be allocated across two battlefields. The cost of the budget is sunk. The other player can mobilize an arbitrary amount of resources at given marginal costs. Our analysis reveals a strategic advantage of the player with the fixed and given budget: this player wins all battlefields with probability one if the budget is at least half the total value of winning.

Suggested Citation

  • Konrad, Kai A. & Morath, Florian, 2023. "How to preempt attacks in multi-front conflict with limited resources," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 305(1), pages 493-500.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:305:y:2023:i:1:p:493-500
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2022.05.050
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    OR in defense; Attack and defense; Multi-battle conflict; Blotto budget; All-pay contest;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions

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