Skip to main content
Log in

Large extensive form games

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Economic Theory Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper provides a self-contained definition and a characterization of the class of extensive form games that are adequate for applications, but still do not employ any finiteness assumptions. In spite of its simplicity, the resulting definition is more general than the classical ones. Moreover, we show that this class satisfies the basic desiderata that strategies induce outcomes and do so uniquely. Within the class of playable extensive forms, the characterization is by the existence of an immediate predecessor function on the set of moves.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alós-Ferrer C.: Dynamical systems with a continuum of randomly matched agents. J Econ Theory 86, 245–267 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alós-Ferrer C., Ritzberger K.: Some remarks on pseudotrees. Order 22, 1–9 (2005a)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alós-Ferrer C., Ritzberger K.: Trees and decisions. Econ Theory 25, 763–798 (2005b)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alós-Ferrer C., Ritzberger K.: Trees and extensive forms. J Econ Theory 143, 216–250 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alós-Ferrer, C., Kern, J., Ritzberger, K.: Comments on ‘Trees and extensive forms’. J Econ Theory, forthcoming

  • Aumann R.J.: Mixed and behavior strategies in infinite extensive games. In: Dresher, M., Shapley, L.S., Tucker, A.W. (eds) Advances in Game Theory. Annals of Mathematics Studies 52, pp. 627–650. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Aumann R.J., Hart S.: Long cheap talk. Econometrica 71, 1619–1660 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carmona G.: A remark on the measurability of large games. Econ Theory 39, 491–494 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalkey N.: Equivalence of information patterns and essentially determinate games. In: Kuhn, H.W., Tucker, A.W. (eds) Contributions to the Theory of Games, vol. II. Annals of Mathematics Studies 28, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Elmes S., Reny P.: On the strategic equivalence of extensive form games. J Econ Theory 62, 1–23 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt E., Stromberg K.: Real and Abstract Analysis. Graduate Texts in Mathematics 25. Springer, Berlin/Heidelberg/New York (1965)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Khan M.A., Sun Y.: Non-cooperative games on hyperfinite Loeb spaces. J Math Econ 31, 455–492 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koppelberg S.: General theory of boolean algebras. In: Monk, J.D., Bonnet, R. (eds) Handbook of Boolean Algebras, vol. 1, Elsevier, Amsterdam/New York (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kreps D., Wilson R.: Sequential equilibria. Econometrica 50, 863–894 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn H.W.: Extensive games and the problem of information. In: Kuhn, H.W., Tucker, A.W. (eds) Contributions to the Theory of Games, vol. II. Annals of Mathematics Studies 28, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ (1953)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mas-Colell A.: On a theorem of Schmeidler. J Math Econ 13, 201–206 (1984)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mas-Colell A., Whinston M.D., Green J.R.: Microeconomic Theory. Oxford University Press, New York/Oxford (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborne M., Rubinstein A.: A course in game theory. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  • Podczeck K.: On the existence of rich Fubini extensions. Econ Theory 45, 1–22 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Podczeck, K., Puzzello, D.: Independent random matching. Econ Theory, forthcoming

  • Piccione M., Rubinstein A.: On the interpretation of decision problems with imperfect recall. Games Econ Behav 20, 3–24 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritzberger K.: Foundations of Non-Cooperative Game Theory. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubinstein A.: Perfect equilibrium in a bargaining model. Econometrica 50, 97–109 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selten R.: Reexamination of the perfectness concept for equilibrium points in extensive games. Int J Game Theory 4, 25–55 (1975)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selten R.: Multistage game models and delay supergames: Nobel lecture, December 9, 1994. In: Selten, R. (eds) Game Theory and Economic Behavior: Selected Essays, vol. 2, pp. 3–32. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK/Northampton, Mass (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapley L.J.: Stochastic games. Proc Nat Acad Sci 39, 1095–1100 (1953)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon L., Stinchcombe M.B.: Extensive form games in continuous time, part I: pure strategies. Econometrica 57, 1171–1214 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spence A.M.: Job market signaling. Q J Econ 83, 355–377 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stinchcombe M.B.: Maximal strategy sets for continuous-time game theory. J Econ Theory 56, 235–265 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, F.B.: Equivalence of games in extensive form. RAND Research Memo No. 759 (1952)

  • Uhlig H.: A law of large numbers for large economies. Econ Theory 8, 41–50 (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  • von Neumann J., Morgenstern O.: Theory of Games and Economic Behavior. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ (1944)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos Alós-Ferrer.

Additional information

The authors acknowledge financial support by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) under projects I338-G16 and Al1169/1. We also thank an anonymous referee for helpful comments.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Alós-Ferrer, C., Ritzberger, K. Large extensive form games. Econ Theory 52, 75–102 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00199-011-0674-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00199-011-0674-y

Keywords

JEL Classification

Navigation