stackyFACTS
Economy

How one selfish player can destroy cooperation

HERE’S THE INTERESTING PART

All it takes is one selfish jerk to completely dismantle a utopian society. When participants secretly contribute to a shared multiplier pool, things start great. But the moment one person realizes they can hoard their tokens and still leech off the multiplied group pool, trust instantly evaporates, and the entire system crashes to zero.

How one selfish player can destroy cooperation
STACKY / Economy
One discovery leads to another.

Keep exploring facts in this topic.

Economy →
STACKY FOR IPHONE

A bigger world.
One discovery
at a time.

Keep discovering with Stacky. Interesting facts in an app that is always within reach.

Download on the App Store
ONE MORE DISCOVERY?

Keep exploring

All in this topic →
Why groups wait for one person to volunteer
Economy

Why groups wait for one person to volunteer

Everyone stares intensely at the ceiling while waiting for a single hero to sacrifice themselves. For the entire group to benefit, exactly one person must pay…

Discover more
Why an empty restaurant scares diners away
Economy

Why an empty restaurant scares diners away

Walking past a completely vacant dining room instantly triggers a deep, instinctive assumption that the food must be absolute poison. Information cascades…

Discover more
Hugo Lindgren documented the 'Hot Waitress Index' for New York Magazine in 2009, observing that the physical attractiveness of servers at everyday restaurants noticeably skyrockets during severe economic recessions.
Economy

Hugo Lindgren documented the 'Hot Waitress Index' for New York Magazine in 2009, observing that the physical attractiveness of servers at everyday restaurants noticeably skyrockets during severe economic recessions.

Hugo Lindgren documented the 'Hot Waitress Index' for New York Magazine in 2009, observing that the physical attractiveness of servers at everyday restaurants…

Discover more
Why hyper-logical players lose at the Centipede Game
Economy

Why hyper-logical players lose at the Centipede Game

Overthinking is the ultimate killer of mutual prosperity. The Centipede Game involves two players taking turns deciding whether to take a small reward now or…

Discover more
El Farol bar problem exposes predictable crowding failures
Economy

El Farol bar problem exposes predictable crowding failures

Nobody goes to that place anymore; it is way too crowded. This paradox asks how participants can decide to visit a venue that is only fun if it is half empty.…

Discover more
Nobody wants to change their mind in equilibrium
Economy

Nobody wants to change their mind in equilibrium

Imagine a Mexican standoff where putting your gun down guarantees you lose. A Nash Equilibrium occurs when every participant in a system has chosen a path,…

Discover more
StackyMore discoveries in the app
Download on the App Store