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Communication, choice continuity, and player number in a continuous-time public goods experiment

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  • Yoshio Iida

    (Kyoto Sangyo University)

Abstract

This study seeks to determine the fundamental factors that foster cooperative outcomes in continuous-time public goods (PG) experiments. Recent research reveals that the subjects in a continuous-time PG experiment with communication and in a continuous-time prisoner’s dilemma (PD) experiment exhibit highly cooperative behavior. This study more closely examines the role of communication in continuous-time PG experiments. Based on the results of a fixed-form communication experiment that yielded the same high contribution rate as a free communication experiment, this study shows that the essential elements of communication leading to cooperation are the call to cooperation and response to it. Additionally, this study investigates why continuous-time PD experiments can induce high-level mutual cooperation without communication—unlike a PG experiment—by conducting cross-experiments between them. The results reveal that the number of players is a highly important, and choice continuity of the PG experiment is not a significant obstacle.

Suggested Citation

  • Yoshio Iida, 2021. "Communication, choice continuity, and player number in a continuous-time public goods experiment," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 16(4), pages 955-988, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jeicoo:v:16:y:2021:i:4:d:10.1007_s11403-021-00334-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11403-021-00334-5
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public goods; Continuous-time game; Prisoner’s dilemma; Communication;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior

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