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Extensive Form Games in Continuous Time: Pure Strategies

Authors: Simon, Leo K; Stinchcombe, Maxwell B;

Extensive Form Games in Continuous Time: Pure Strategies

Abstract

We propose a new framework for games in continuous time that conforms as closely as possible to the conventional discrete-time framework. In this paper, we take the view that continuous time can be viewed as "discrete time, but with a grid that is infinitely fine." Specifically, we define a class of continuous-time strategies with the following property: when restricted to an arbitrary, increasingly fine sequence of discrete-time grids, any profile of strategies drawn from this class generates a convergent sequence of outcomes, whose limit is independent of the sequence of grids. We then define the continuous-time outcome to be this limit. Because our continuous-time model conforms so closely to the conventional discrete-time model, we can readily compare the predictions of the two frameworks. Specifically, we ask two questions. First, is discrete-time with a very find grid a good proxy for continuous time? Second, does every subgame perfect equilibrium in our model have a discrete-time analog? Our answer to the first question is the following "upper hemi-continuity" result: Suppose a sequence of discrete-time e-subgame-perfect equilibria increasingly closely approximates (in a special sense) a given continuous-time profile, with - converging to zero along as the period length shrinks. Then the continuous-time profile will be an exact equilibrium for the corresponding continuous-time game. Our second answer is a lower hemi-continuity result that holds under weak conditions. Fix a perfect equilibrium for a continuous-time game and a positive ?. Then for any sufficiently fine grid, there will exist an e-subgame perfect equilibrium for the corresponding game played on that grid which "is within - of" the continuous-time equilibrium. Our model yields sharp predictions in a variety of industrial organization applications. We first consider several variants of a familiar preemption model. Next, we analyze a stylized model of a patent race. Finally, we obtain a striking uniqueness result for a class of "repeated" games.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
165
Top 1%
Top 1%
Average
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