Deconstruction of Infinite Extensive Games using coinduction

Pierre Lescanne

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arXiv · 0904.3528

Deconstruction of Infinite Extensive Games using coinduction

Pierre Lescanne

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Abstract

Finite objects and more specifically finite games are formalized using induction, whereas infinite objects are formalized using coinduction. In this article, after an introduction to the concept of coinduction, we revisit on infinite (discrete) extensive games the basic notions of game theory. Among others, we introduce a definition of Nash equilibrium and a notion of subgame perfect equilibrium for infinite games. We use those concepts to analyze well known infinite games, like the dollar auction game and the centipede game and we show that human behaviors that are often considered as illogic are perfectly rational, if one admits that human agents reason coinductively.

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Pierre Lescanne. 2009-04-28. Deconstruction of Infinite Extensive Games using coinduction. https://arxiv.org/abs/0904.3528

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