Lie detection: A strategic analysis of the Verifiability Approach

Konstantinos Ioannidis, Theo Offerman and Randolph Sloof
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Konstantinos Ioannidis: University of Amsterdam
Theo Offerman: University of Amsterdam

No 20-029/I, Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers from Tinbergen Institute

Abstract: The Verifiability Approach is a lie detection method based on the insight that truth-tellers provide precise details whereas liars sometimes remain vague to avoid being exposed. We provide a-game-theoretic analysis of a speaker who wants to be acquitted and an investigator who prefers to find out the truth. The investigator can verify the speaker’s statement at some cost; verification gets more reliable the more details are provided. If, after a falsified statement, the investigator convicts, an additional obstruction penalty is imposed. We derive all the equilibria of the game and thereby the conditions under which the investigator can infer additional information from the speaker's statement at face value. Strategic information revelation by the speaker and verification by the investigator then necessarily work in tandem. Improvements in reliability result in more valuable (strategic) information transmission, whereas a harsher obstruction penalty does not as soon as a lower limit is met.

Keywords: Lie detection; Verifiability approach; Strategic information revelation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 D01 D82 K14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-06-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-gth, nep-law and nep-ore
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Lie Detection: A Strategic Analysis of the Verifiability Approach (2022)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:tin:wpaper:20200029

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