America – An Endless Game of Prisoner’s Dilemma
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-09-08/a-game-theory-solution-for-a-fractured-america
“A Game Theory Solution for a Fractured America” emphasizes the applicability of game theory- more specifically- the prisoner’s dilemma to address human interaction pertaining to national divide and social conflict. The economic theory takes two sides that play against each other- which in this case can be viewed as opposing races, political views, or ideologies. The divide among American people has some clear consequences pertaining to social conflict, government mistrust, and the suppression of economic growth. Thus, it’s an issue to be tackled. The article highlights an interesting connection between the prisoner’s dilemma and the strategy that can be used to alleviate social tension within our country.
-If prisoner’s dilemma gets played only once, or has an ending round in a series of games, players within the game are incentivized and always chose to betray the other. Thus, both players are both left worse-off. That’s the ugly truth of human interaction.
-If prisoner’s dilemma is played an indefinite amount of times, players begin to co-operate.
The article corresponds this idea with the fact that different races, opinions, and political standpoints within the U.S. as well as in other countries aren’t suddenly going to go away. An abundance of statistics is presented in the article in support of this. For example- the increasing rate of racial diversity within the U.S. Thus, collaboration must be fostered. The American presidential election can be viewed a more concrete example of a game of prisoner’s dilemma, one that occur every four years, with an indefinite end as long as the American government continues to exist.