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Dominance solvability of dynamic bargaining games

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Abstract

We formulate and study a general finite-horizon bargaining game with simultaneous moves and a disagreement outcome that need not be the worst possible result for the agents. Conditions are identified under which the game is dominance solvable in the sense that iterative deletion of weakly dominated strategies selects a unique outcome. Our analysis uses a backward induction procedure to pinpoint the latest moment at which a coalition can be found with both an incentive and the authority to force one of the available alternatives. Iterative dominance then implies that the alternative characterized in this way will be agreed upon at the outset—or, if a suitable coalition is never found, that no agreement will be reached.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK

    Christopher J. Tyson

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  1. Christopher J. Tyson
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Correspondence to Christopher J. Tyson.

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The work reported here has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and Nuffield College, Oxford. The author also wishes to thank Margaret Meyer, Eric Van den Steen, Robert Wilson, Muhamet Yildiz, and four referees for useful comments and suggestions.

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Tyson, C.J. Dominance solvability of dynamic bargaining games. Econ Theory 43, 457–477 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00199-009-0454-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00199-009-0454-0

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