Prisoner's Dilemma
Also called PD.
Two players each do better by betraying, yet both do better together if both cooperate.
Played once, betraying is better for each player whatever the other does, so both end up worse off than if both had cooperated.
Played many times with the same partner, cooperation can last, because betrayal today costs you tomorrow. It holds only while the future matters enough and nobody knows which round is the last: in theory a known last round unravels it, since there is no tomorrow to protect; in practice people tend to cooperate until near the end, then defect.
Try it yourself
Two teams share a budget that is split again every quarter, with no end date. Each could grab more this quarter. What best keeps both from grabbing?
3 questions, a minute or two. Nothing to finish first.
Want more? Practise Cooperate or defend.
Play it out: the Prisoner's Dilemma lab, about five minutes against bots.
Learn and practise it
- Skill: Cooperate or defend