Research Details

Abstract

The value of a game is the payoff a player can expect (ex ante) from playing the game. Understanding how the value changes with economic primitives is critical for policy design and welfare. However, for games with multiple equilibria, the value is difficult to determine. We therefore develop a new theory of the value of coordination games. The theory delivers testable comparative statics on the value and delivers novel insights relevant to policy design. For example, policies that shift behavior in the desired direction can make everyone worse off, and policies that increase everyone's payoffs can reduce welfare.

Type

Article

Author(s)

Alvaro Sandroni, Willemien Kets, Wouter Kager

Date Published

2022

Citations

Sandroni, Alvaro, Willemien Kets, and Wouter Kager. 2022. The Value of a Coordination Game. Journal of Economic Theory.