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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
06:48
The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
Published on: January 19, 2019
9.9K
Harsh environments and the evolution of multi-player cooperation.
1Utrecht University School of Economics, Utrecht University, Kriekenpitplein 21-22, 3584 EC, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Theoretical Population Biology
|September 25, 2016
Summary
A harsher environment can increase or decrease cooperation probability depending on cooperation costs. Environmental adversity
Area of Science:
- Game Theory
- Environmental Economics
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Cooperation is vital for public good provision.
- Environmental harshness impacts cooperative behavior.
- Existing models lack micro-foundations for this relationship.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a game-theoretic model explaining environmental effects on cooperation.
- To analyze how environmental adversity influences cooperation probability.
- To investigate the role of cooperation costs in this dynamic.
Main Methods:
- Developed a game-theoretic model.
- Defined environmental harshness by complementarity and defense against attacks.
- Analyzed the relationship between adversity, cooperation costs, and cooperation probability.
Main Results:
- Environmental harshness and cooperation probability show a non-linear relationship.
- The effect of adversity is monotonous with opposite signs for low and high cooperation costs.
- A hill-shaped effect of harshness on cooperation is observed for intermediate costs.
Conclusions:
- Environmental adversity's impact on cooperation is complex and cost-dependent.
- The model provides micro-foundations for understanding cooperation in harsh environments.
- Findings have implications for managing public goods under environmental stress.
Keywords:
By-product mutualismEvolutionary game theoryHarsh environmentsMulti-player public goods gamesMore Related Videos
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