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Strong Reciprocity and Human Sociality∗
Strong Reciprocity and Human Sociality∗ Herbert Gintis Department of Economics University of Massachusetts, Amherst Phone: 413-586-7756 Fax: 413-586-6014 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/˜gintis Running Head: Strong Reciprocity and Human Sociality March 11, 2000 Abstract Human groups maintain a high level of sociality despite a low level of relatedness among group members. The behavioral basis of this sociality remains in doubt. This paper reviews the evidence for an empirically identifi- able form of prosocial behavior in humans, which we call ‘strong reciprocity,’ that may in part explain human sociality. A strong reciprocator is predisposed to cooperate with others and punish non-cooperators, even when this behavior cannot be justified in terms of extended kinship or reciprocal altruism. We present a simple model, stylized but plausible, of the evolutionary emergence of strong reciprocity. 1 Introduction Human groups maintain a high level of sociality despite a low level of relatedness among group members. Three types of explanation have been offered for this phe- nomenon: reciprocal altruism (Trivers 1971, Axelrod and Hamilton 1981), cultural group selection (Cavalli-Sforza and Feldman 1981, Boyd and Richerson 1985) and genetically-based altruism (Lumsden and Wilson 1981, Simon 1993, Wilson and Dugatkin 1997). These approaches are of course not incompatible. Reciprocal ∗ I would like to thank Lee Alan Dugatkin, Ernst Fehr, David Sloan Wilson, and the referees of this Journal for helpful comments, Samuel Bowles and Robert Boyd for many extended discussions of these issues, and the MacArthur Foundation for financial support. This paper is dedicated to the memory of W. -
Uncertainty and Hyperbolic Discounting
Uncertainty and Hyperbolic Discounting By PARTHA DASGUPTA AND ERIC MASKIN* Empirical studies in economics and behav- they have become more impatient than they ioral ecology suggest that, ceteris paribus, ani- were in January. mals and humans appear to place less weight on Both the O’Donoghue-Rabin and Strotz ex- the future than on the present, i.e., they act as amples accord with “hyperbolic discounting,”2 though they discount future payoffs. Further- which has attracted considerable interest among more (and more interestingly), they do so with economists because it appears to shed light on discount rates that increase as the time before important economic phenomena such as house- those payoffs are realized grows shorter.1 In hold saving behavior (see David Laibson, 1997; other words, subjects act as though they become B. Douglas Bernheim et al., 2001; Christopher less patient when payoffs are more imminent. Harris and Laibson, 2003). An anecdotal (human) example is offered by One might ask whether there is some reason Ted O’Donoghue and Matthew Rabin (1999): for such behavior. The point of view that we when offered the choice in February between a take is that, to a considerable extent, animal and painful seven-hour task (e.g., preparing a tax human behavior is shaped by preferences that return) on April 1 and a painful eight-hour task are the outcome of evolutionary forces. That is, on April 15, most of us, they suggest, will opt cravings, urges, or instincts—the operational for the earlier date. But as April 1 approaches, manifestations of preferences—induce the ani- we are apt to change our minds, if we can, and mal or human to make the right choice in the postpone the pain to April 15, even though it “average” situation that it, he, or she is likely to will then be greater. -
Principles of Behavioral Economics for Personal Development 30 Giugno 2018 Rodica Ianole-Calin
Tribunale Bologna 24.07.2007, n.7770 - ISSN 2239-7752 Direttore responsabile: Antonio Zama Principles of Behavioral Economics for Personal Development 30 Giugno 2018 Rodica Ianole-Calin Contributo selezionato da Filodiritto tra quelli pubblicati nei Proceedings “International Conference on Economics and Administration 2017” Per acquistare i Proceedings clicca qui: http://www.filodirittoeditore.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=78&product_id=143 Contribution selected by Filodiritto among those published in the Proceedings “International Conference on Economics and Administration 2017” To buy the Proceedings click here: http://www.filodirittoeditore.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=78&product_id=143 IANOLE-C?LIN Rodica [1], BRATU Anca [2] [1] Faculty of Business and Administration, University of Bucharest (ROMANIA) [2] Faculty of Business and Administration, University of Bucharest (ROMANIA) Emails: [email protected], [email protected] Abstract The paper aims to illustrate how becoming aware of our own behavioral patterns, by exposure to the experiments brought forward by behavioral economics, can trigger a significant transformation of our personal habits, in the direction of a better congruence with our true self and finally of better decision- making. The argumentation highlights three main focal points: the tensioned choice between maximizing and satisficing approaches, the inter-temporal conundrum between now and later, and the gap between planning and action. Introduction Understanding standard economic thinking – how a market works, how prices are formed, how economic agents interact – is without any doubt a first premise for achieving economic development. The following step, that of becoming acquainted with behavioral economic thinking, can further refine this development, but in a reverse order: creating initially a favorable space for personal development, that may gradually be led to wellbeing, also from a financial perspective. -
A Review of the Social Science Literature on the Causes of Conflict
Research Report Understanding Conflict Trends A Review of the Social Science Literature on the Causes of Conflict Stephen Watts, Jennifer Kavanagh, Bryan Frederick, Tova C. Norlen, Angela O’Mahony, Phoenix Voorhies, Thomas S. Szayna Prepared for the United States Army Approved for public release; distribution unlimited ARROYO CENTER For more information on this publication, visit www.rand.org/t/rr1063z1 Published by the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, Calif. © Copyright 2017 RAND Corporation R® is a registered trademark. Limited Print and Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited. Permission is given to duplicate this document for personal use only, as long as it is unaltered and complete. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.html. The RAND Corporation is a research organization that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. RAND is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and committed to the public interest. RAND’s publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. Support RAND Make a tax-deductible charitable contribution at www.rand.org/giving/contribute www.rand.org Preface The recent spike in violence in places like Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen notwithstanding, the number of conflicts worldwide has fallen since the end of the Cold War, and few of those that remain are clashes between states. -
Chemical Game Theory
Chemical Game Theory Jacob Kautzky Group Meeting February 26th, 2020 What is game theory? Game theory is the study of the ways in which interacting choices of rational agents produce outcomes with respect to the utilities of those agents Why do we care about game theory? 11 nobel prizes in economics 1994 – “for their pioneering analysis of equilibria in the thoery of non-cooperative games” John Nash Reinhard Selten John Harsanyi 2005 – “for having enhanced our understanding of conflict and cooperation through game-theory” Robert Aumann Thomas Schelling Why do we care about game theory? 2007 – “for having laid the foundatiouns of mechanism design theory” Leonid Hurwicz Eric Maskin Roger Myerson 2012 – “for the theory of stable allocations and the practice of market design” Alvin Roth Lloyd Shapley 2014 – “for his analysis of market power and regulation” Jean Tirole Why do we care about game theory? Mathematics Business Biology Engineering Sociology Philosophy Computer Science Political Science Chemistry Why do we care about game theory? Plato, 5th Century BCE Initial insights into game theory can be seen in Plato’s work Theories on prisoner desertions Cortez, 1517 Shakespeare’s Henry V, 1599 Hobbes’ Leviathan, 1651 Henry orders the French prisoners “burn the ships” executed infront of the French army First mathematical theory of games was published in 1944 by John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern Chemical Game Theory Basics of Game Theory Prisoners Dilemma Battle of the Sexes Rock Paper Scissors Centipede Game Iterated Prisoners Dilemma -
Bringing in Darwin Bradley A. Thayer
Bringing in Darwin Bradley A. Thayer Evolutionary Theory, Realism, and International Politics Efforts to develop a foundation for scientiªc knowledge that would unite the natural and social sci- ences date to the classical Greeks. Given recent advances in genetics and evolu- tionary theory, this goal may be closer than ever.1 The human genome project has generated much media attention as scientists reveal genetic causes of dis- eases and some aspects of human behavior. And although advances in evolu- tionary theory may have received less attention, they are no less signiªcant. Edward O. Wilson, Roger Masters, and Albert Somit, among others, have led the way in using evolutionary theory and social science to produce a synthesis for understanding human behavior and social phenomena.2 This synthesis posits that human behavior is simultaneously and inextricably a result of evo- lutionary and environmental causes. The social sciences, including the study of international politics, may build upon this scholarship.3 In this article I argue that evolutionary theory can improve the realist theory of international politics. Traditional realist arguments rest principally on one of two discrete ultimate causes, or intellectual foundations. The ªrst is Reinhold Niebuhr’s argument that humans are evil. The second is grounded in the work Bradley A. Thayer is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Minnesota—Duluth. I am grateful to Mlada Bukovansky, Stephen Chilton, Christopher Layne, Michael Mastanduno, Roger Masters, Paul Sharp, Alexander Wendt, Mike Winnerstig, and Howard Wriggins for their helpful comments. I thank Nathaniel Fick, David Hawkins, Jeremy Joseph, Christopher Kwak, Craig Nerenberg, and Jordana Phillips for their able research assistance. -
The Governance Problem in Aggregate Litigation
THE GOVERNANCE PROBLEM IN AGGREGATE LITIGATION Samuel Issacharoff* Recent developments in class action law and scholarship have forced new attention on the question of how class representation should be assessed. This Article begins with an examination of the governance problem in class action analyzed from the perspective of the customary political theories that would justify legitimate government in public and private domains. Customary accounts of democratic legitimacy or contractual voluntarism poorly capture the distinct world of the one-time aggregation of a class under court-assigned leadership. What emerges is an assessment of how various class action doctrines serve to fill the void in customary indications of legitimacy in governance. The Article concludes with a review of alternative efforts to structure class governance to avoid the agency problems inherent in the power to manage the affairs of others. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 3165 I. GOVERNANCE OUTSIDE POLITICS ....................................................... 3169 A. The Single Term ...................................................................... 3169 B. Voice and the Epistemic Moment ............................................ 3172 C. The Right To Exit .................................................................... 3175 D. Intermediaries ........................................................................ 3177 E. Rivals for Leadership ............................................................. -
Bounded Rationality
Center for American Politics and Public Policy Department of Political Science University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195 Bounded Rationality Bryan D. Jones Department of Political Science University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195 November 1998 To appear in the Annual Review of Political Science, Nelson Polsby, Editor Discussion Paper Policy Agendas Project Bounded Rationality Abstract Findings from behavioral organization theory, behavioral decision theory, survey research and experimental economics leave no doubt about the failure of rational choice as a descriptive model of human behavior. But this does not mean that people and their politics are irrational. Bounded rationality asserts that decision-makers are intendedly rational; that is, they are goal-oriented and adaptive, but because of human cognitive and emotional architecture, they sometimes fail, occasionally in important decisions. Limits on rational adaptation are of two types: procedural limits, which are limits on how we go about making decisions, and substantive limits, which affect particular choices directly. Rational analysis in institutional contexts can serve as a standard for adaptive, goal-oriented human behavior. In relatively fixed task environments, such as asset markets or elections, we should be able to divide behavior into adaptive, goal-oriented behavior (that is, rational action) and behavior that is a consequence of processing limits, and measure the deviation. The extent of deviation is an empirical issue. These classes are mutually exclusive and exhaustive, and may be examined empirically in situations in which actors make repeated similar choices. Bounded Rationality1 Do people make rational decisions in politics and economics? Not if by ‘rational’ we mean conformity to the classic expected utility model. -
Books Recommended by Williams Faculty
Books Students Should Read In the summer of 2009, Williams faculty members were asked to list three books they felt that students should read. This request was deliberately a bit ambiguous. Some interpreted the request as listing "the three best books", some as "books that inspired them when young" and still others as "books recently read that are really good". There is little doubt that many of the following faculty would list different books if asked on a different day. But there is also little doubt that this is a list of a lot of great books for everyone. American Studies Dorothy Wang 1. James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son 2. Giacomo Leopardi, Thoughts 3. Henry David Thoreau, Walden Anthropology and Sociology Michael Brown 1. Evan S. Connell, Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn 2. Mario Vargas Llosa, Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter 3. Claude Lévi-Strauss, Tristes Tropiques Antonia Foias 1. Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs and Steel 2. Linda Schele and David Freidel, Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya Robert Jackall, 1. Homer, The Illiad and The Odyssey (translated by Robert Fizgerald) 2. Thucydides (Robert B. Strassler, editor) , The Peloponnesian War. The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War. 2. John Edward Williams, Augustus: A Novel Peter Just 1. The Bible 2. Bhagavad-Gita 3. Frederick Engels and Karl Marx, Communist Manifesto Olga Shevchenko 1. Joseph Brodsky, Less than One 2. Anne Fadiman, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down 3. William Strunk and E. B. White, Elements of Style Art and Art History Ed Epping 1. -
The Evolution of Cooperation Robert Axelrod; William D. Hamilton Science, New Series, Vol
The Evolution of Cooperation Robert Axelrod; William D. Hamilton Science, New Series, Vol. 211, No. 4489. (Mar. 27, 1981), pp. 1390-1396. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0036-8075%2819810327%293%3A211%3A4489%3C1390%3ATEOC%3E2.0.CO%3B2-6 Science is currently published by American Association for the Advancement of Science. Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/about/terms.html. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/journals/aaas.html. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. The JSTOR Archive is a trusted digital repository providing for long-term preservation and access to leading academic journals and scholarly literature from around the world. The Archive is supported by libraries, scholarly societies, publishers, and foundations. It is an initiative of JSTOR, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to help the scholarly community take advantage of advances in technology. For more information regarding JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. http://www.jstor.org Fri Jan 4 15:02:00 2008 The latest data for 1978 suggests that the situa- ary 1975) the Committee on Science and Tech- budget appropriations." In other words, it tion may, in fact, be deteriorating. -
Etica & Politica / Ethics & Politics
Etica & Politica / Ethics & Politics IX, 2007, 1 Università di Trieste Dipartimento di Filosofia www.units.it/etica ISSN 1825-5167 2 Etica & Politica / Ethics & Politics IX, 2007, 2 MONOGRAPHICA AGOSTINO E LA GIUSTIZIA / AUGUSTINE AND JUSTICE MARIA BETTETINI &GIOVANNI CATAPANO, Guest Editors’ Preface p. 6 PIETRO CALOGERO, Sul concetto di iuris consensus in sant’Agostino p. 10 PHILIPPE CURBELIE, Iniustus dans le De ciuitate Dei p. 17 ROBERT DODARO, I fondamenti teologici del pensiero politico agostinia- p. 38 no: le virtù teologali dello statista come ponte tra le due città CHRISTOPH HORN, Politische Gerechtigkeit bei Cicero und Augustinus p. 46 EVA-MARIA KUHN, Justice Applied by the Episcopal Arbitrator: p. 71 Augustine and the Implementation of Divine Justice PAOLO DI LUCIA, Agostino filosofo del diritto: la lettura di Sergio Cotta p. 105 SERGIO COTTA, Legge e sicurezza p. 109 DIALOGHI DI ETICA BARBARA DE MORI, Presentazione p. 122 MICHELE DI FRANCESCO, Neurofilosofia, naturalismo e statuto dei giudizi p. 126 morali SIMONE POLLO, L’uso pubblico del naturalismo p. 144 ROBERTO FESTA, Teoria dei giochi ed evoluzione delle norme morali p. 148 GIANFRANCO PELLEGRINO, Teoria dei giochi ed etica naturalistica p. 182 3 MASSIMO REICHLIN, Appunti sulla relazione di Roberto Festa p. 188 ROBERTO MORDACCI, I limiti del naturalismo in etica p. 194 SERGIO CREMASCHI, Naturalizzazione senza naturalismo: una prospettiva p. 201 per la metaetica LUCIANA CERI, Due limiti del naturalismo p. 218 PAOLO ZECCHINATO, Pinker e il marchingegno morale p. 228 SERGIO FILIPPO MAGNI, Pinker, la metaetica e il libero arbitrio p. 233 VARIA MAURIZIO FERRARIS, Documentalità: ontologia del mondo sociale p. -
Will As Intertemporal Bargaining: Implications for Rationality
WILL AS INTERTEMPORAL BARGAINING: IMPLICATIONS FOR RATIONALITY GEORGE AINSLIEt &JOHN MONTEROSSOtt Rationality has been understood as conducting yourself according to reason rather than passion. In modern times this endeavor has become synonymous with maximizing your expected goods, with the value of expected but delayed goods dis- counted exponentially. However, behavioral research has found a robust tendency for delayed goods to be discounted hyperbolically, that is, for their value to be di- vided by their delay. This finding supplies a simple hypothesis about the origin of irrationality, but greatly complicates the problem of rationality, since it depicts a limited warfare relationship among interests within an individual. Recent re- search on the combining properties of hyperbolically discounted rewards supports the hypothesis that a person s will arisesfrom a prisoner's-dilemma-likerelationship among successive motivational states. This picoeconomic hypothesis provides a mechanism for both the strength and 'freedom" of the will, and predicts pathologies of overcontrol that make strength of will something very different from pure ration- ality. This approach offers insights into current puzzles about criminal responsi- bility and the disease model of addiction. INTRODUCTION Rationality is an ancient concept, one that Plato contrasted with passion to form a dichotomy of choice principles.' Through the ages rationality has meant the good way to make choices, the way that will maximize your satisfaction with the outcome. As such, it has been a norm rather than a description of actual behavior. However, since utility theory has postulated that people always maximize their ex- pected utility, rationality has acquired a descriptive implication: the rational is what anyone inevitably will do whenever she is aware of the true contingencies she faces.