In experimental games, we observe the following phenomena: (1) many subjects cooperate contrary to their material interest, (2) they cooperate in a reciprocal manner, (3) subjects often punish those others who behave unkindly, and (4) previous history usually influences subjects’ choices. We propose a simple game-theoretical model to account for these and other experimental phenomena, and compa...

This paper analyzes the dynamic stability of moral codes in a two population trust game. Guided by a moral code, members of one population, the Trustors, are willing to punish members of the other population, the Trustees, who defect. Under replicator dynamics, adherence to the moral code has unstable oscillations around an interior Nash Equilibrium (NE), but under smoothed best response dynami...

• Poor voters are more likely to be recipients of electoral clientelism during elections. who central in informal family networks targeted compared those less central. The targeting poor, does not appear driven by beliefs that easier monitor and punish. Access poor alternative further undermines the ability campaigns credibly punish wayward voters. Why susceptible clientelism, what factors shie...

Leniency clauses, offering cartelists legal immunity if they blow the whistle on each other, is a recent anti-trust innovation. The authorities wish to thwart cartels and promote competition. This effect is not evident, however; whistle-blowing may enforce trust and collusion by providing a tool for cartelists to punish each other. We examine the impact of leniency law, and other rules, theoret...

In cyberspace attackers enjoy an advantage over defenders, which has popularized the concept of “active cyber defense”— offensive actions intended to punish or deter the adversary. This article argues active cyber defense is not a practical course of action to obtain tactical and strategic objectives. Instead, “aggressive cyber defense,” a proactive security solution, is a more appropriate opti...

In this work we propose a theory of gossip as a means for social control. Exercising social control roughly means to isolate and to punish cheaters. However, punishment is costly and it inevitably implies the problem of second-order cooperation. Moving from a cognitive model of gossip, we report data from ethnographic studies and agent-based simulations to support our claim that gossip reduces ...

I’m a regular guy. I like sports, particularly football. I enjoy action movies and silly sitcoms. Occasionally I watch cartoons, giggling like a kid at the antics of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Yosemite Sam. I’d like to posthumously punish whoever invented suits and ties. When I visit McDonald’s and Wendy’s, I don’t order the salads. If you give the remote to me, I won’t return it until I flip ...