The Attack and Defense of Weakest-Link Networks

Dan Kovenock, Brian Roberson and Roman M. Sheremeta

No 3211, CESifo Working Paper Series from CESifo

Abstract: This paper experimentally examines behavior in a two-player game of attack and defense of a weakest-link network of targets, in which the attacker’s objective is to successfully attack at least one target and the defender’s objective is diametrically opposed. We apply two benchmark contest success functions (CSFs): the auction CSF and the lottery CSF. Consistent with the theoretical prediction, under the auction CSF, attackers utilize a stochastic “guerilla warfare” strategy — in which a single random target is attacked — more than 80% of the time. Under the lottery CSF, attackers utilize the stochastic guerilla warfare strategy almost 45% of the time, contrary to the theoretical prediction of an equal allocation of forces across the targets.

Keywords: Colonel Blotto; conflict resolution; weakest-link; best-shot; multi-dimensional resource allocation; experiments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 C91 D72 D74 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (36)

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Related works:
Journal Article: The attack and defense of weakest-link networks (2019)
Working Paper: The attack and defense of weakest-link networks (2018)
Working Paper: The Attack and Defense of Weakest-Link Networks (2017)
Working Paper: The Attack and Defense of Weakest-Link Networks (2010)
Working Paper: The Attack and Defense of Weakest-Link Networks (2010)
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