The Chain Store Paradox

Abstract

It is the purpose of this paper to present the example of a simple game in extensive form where the actual behavior of well informed players cannot be expected to agree with the clear results of game theoretical reasoning. A story about a fictitious chain store and its potential competitors is a convenient way to describe the game. This expositionary device should not be misunderstood as a model of a real situation. In view of the story the game will be called "the chain store game". The disturbing disagreement between plausible game behavior and game theoretical reasoning constitutes the "chain store paradox". The chain store paradox throws new light on the well known difficulties which arise in connection with the finite supergame of prisoners' dilemma game. A limited rationality approach seems to be needed in order to explain human strategic behavior. An attempt shall be made to discuss the possibility of a "tree-level theory of decision making" as an explanation of discrepancies between game theoretic analysis and human behavior.