Stochastic Evolutionary Dynamics in the Repeated Prisoners' Dilemma

Bruce Linster

Economic Inquiry, 1994, vol. 32, issue 2, 342-57

Abstract: This paper explores boundedly rational behavior in the infinitely repeated prisoners' dilemma. Strategy choices are modeled as finite automata and the evolution of populations through asexual reproduction with mutation is explored. Evolutionary success is based on how well the strategy does in an infinite game against randomly matched opponents and mutation schemes based on a stylized model of these strategies are employed. The results demonstrate when either defecting or cooperating strategies tend to evolve, depending on how important the future is. Interestingly, when the strategies are allowed to become tolerant of defections, the population cycles between defecting and cooperating strategies. Copyright 1994 by Oxford University Press.

Date: 1994
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:oup:ecinqu:v:32:y:1994:i:2:p:342-57

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://academic.oup.com/journals

Access Statistics for this article

Economic Inquiry is currently edited by Preston McAfee

More articles in Economic Inquiry from Western Economic Association International Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP, UK. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Oxford University Press ().