Asymmetric majority pillage games

Abstract We study pillage games (Jordan in J Econ Theory 131(1):26–44, 2006), which model unstructured power contests. To enable empirical tests of game theory, we relax a symmetry assumption that agents’ intrinsic contributions to coalition’s is identical. characterise the core for all n . In three-agent game: (i) only eight configurations are possible core, contains at most six allocations; (ii) each configuration, stable set either unique or fails exist; (iii) linear function creates tension between set’s existence and interiority its allocations, so special cases contain strictly interior allocations. Our analysis suggests non-linear functions may offer better theory.