causal
Seeing Foregone Options Doubles Cooperation
In a controlled comparison, when the second mover can see that the first mover voluntarily gave up an outside option, cooperation is twice as high as defection; but when the first mover had no choice (no outside option to forgo), defection becomes twice as high as cooperation -- demonstrating that the ability to read intention drives reciprocal cooperation.
causalpending
Speaker
Vernon SmithEvidence Quote
“if two doesn't see what one gave up because they gave up nothing--they had to do what they did--then there is far more defection... in the game where I see what you gave up and I can read meaning into your action, the cooperation is twice as high as the defection.”
Created: 6/13/2026, 12:22:45 AM
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