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Economics, Ethics and the Dilemma in the Prisoner's Dilemmas

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  • Daniel G. Arce

Abstract

This paper contrasts four distinct versions of the Prisoner's Dilemma (the commons, public goods, biological altruism, and biological selfishness) in terms of their ethical content for economic decision making. An argument is made for the restoration of Tucker's third player — as given in the original specification of the game — in order to judge whether a resolution is desirable in economic and business situations that reduce to the Prisoner's Dilemma. Finally, the use of tit-for-tat as a 'solution' to the Prisoner's Dilemma is compared with the practice of business ethics.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel G. Arce, 2010. "Economics, Ethics and the Dilemma in the Prisoner's Dilemmas," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 55(1), pages 49-57, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:amerec:v:55:y:2010:i:1:p:49-57
    DOI: 10.1177/056943451005500106
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Todd Sandler & Daniel G. Arce M., 2003. "Pure Public Goods versus Commons: Benefit-Cost Duality," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 79(3), pages 355-368.
    2. David Sally, 1995. "Conversation and Cooperation in Social Dilemmas," Rationality and Society, , vol. 7(1), pages 58-92, January.
    3. James Stodder, 1998. "Experimental Moralities: Ethics in Classroom Experiments," The Journal of Economic Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(2), pages 127-138, June.
    4. Sandler,Todd, 2001. "Economic Concepts for the Social Sciences," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521792622, September.
    5. Sandler,Todd, 2001. "Economic Concepts for the Social Sciences," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521796774, September.
    6. Eriksson, Ralf, 2005. "On the ethics of environmental economics as seen from textbooks," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(4), pages 421-435, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ngoc-thao Noet & Serge Blondel, 2023. "Cooperation and ethical choices: an experimental approach," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 43(4), pages 1698-1717.
    2. Arthur Ssebbugga-Kimeze, 2022. "Opting for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Uganda: a non-cooperative game," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(6), pages 1-11, August.
    3. Ngoc Thao Noet & Serge Blondel, 2023. "Cooperation and ethical choices through an experimental approach [Coopération et choix éthiques : une approche expérimentale]," Working Papers hal-04075048, HAL.

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