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Evolutionary stability of preferences: altruism, selfishness, and envy

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  • Sung-Hoon Park

    (Chosun University)

  • Jeong-Yoo Kim

    (Kyung Hee University)

Abstract

This paper examines evolutionary stability of preferences in games with strategic complements or substitutes following the indirect evolutionary approach. Preferences are classified into three types: altruism, selfishness, and envy. Depending on the nature of a game (one with strategic substitutes or complements), envy or altruism respectively is strictly dominated. Based on this, we show that an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) exists in which selfishness and envy survive together in games with strategic substitutes, whereas no ESS exists in which altruism and selfishness coexist in games with strategic complements.

Suggested Citation

  • Sung-Hoon Park & Jeong-Yoo Kim, 2022. "Evolutionary stability of preferences: altruism, selfishness, and envy," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 58(2), pages 349-363, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sochwe:v:58:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s00355-021-01361-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s00355-021-01361-8
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