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Quarterly Journal of Economics Vol. 112 No. 2 1997

Measuring Players' Losses in Experimental Games

Drew Fudenberg1; David K. Levine2

1 Harvard University · 2 University of California, Los Angeles

Abstract

In some experiments rational players who understand the structure of the game could improve their payoff. We hound the size of the observed losses in several such experiments, lb do this, we suppose that observed play resembles an equilibrium because players learn about their opponents' play. Consequently, in an extensive-form game, some actions that are not optimal given the true distribution of opponents' play could be optimal given available information. We find that average losses are small: $0.03 to $0.64 per player with stakes between $2 and $30. In one of the three experiments we examine, this also implies a narrow range of outcome.

DOI
10.1162/003355397555271
Volume
112
Issue
2
Pages
507-536
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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