Reputation with Analogical Reasoning

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 2012
Volume: 127
Issue: 4
Pages: 1927-1969

Authors (2)

Philippe Jehiel (Paris School of Economics) Larry Samuelson (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We consider a repeated interaction between a long-run player and a sequence of short-run players, in which the long-run player may either be rational or may be a mechanical type who plays the same (possibly mixed) action in every stage game. We depart from the classical model in assuming that the short-run players make inferences by analogical reasoning, meaning that they correctly identify the average strategy of each type of long-run player, but do not recognize how this play varies across histories. Concentrating on 2 × 2 games, we provide a characterization of equilibrium payoffs, establishing a payoff bound for the rational long-run player that can be strictly larger than the familiar "Stackelberg" bound. We also provide a characterization of equilibrium behavior, showing that play begins with either a reputation-building or a reputation-spending stage (depending on parameters), followed by a reputation-manipulation stage. Copyright 2012, Oxford University Press.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:127:y:2012:i:4:p:1927-1969
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25