In a prisoners' dilemma game,
A)the solution when playing the game once will be the same as the solution when the players play the game repeatedly, since agreements cannot be maintained in a prisoners' dilemma.
B)if the players play the game repeatedly, the players can achieve a higher payoff, on average, than when they play the game only once.
C)repeated play will always result in a better outcome for both players than when the game is played only once.
D)the tit-for-tat strategy in repeated play requires players to always select the opposite strategy as their opponent.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a prisoners' dilemma game played only once, both players have an incentive to defect, resulting in a suboptimal outcome for both. However, if the game is played repeatedly, players can use strategies like tit-for-tat or forgiveness to achieve a higher payoff, on average. By cooperating in the beginning, they can establish trust and build on that trust for future rounds, resulting in a better outcome for both players. Therefore, choice B is the best answer.

In a Prisoners' Dilemma Game