Which one of the following conditions is required for the success of a tit-for-tat strategy?
A. Demand and cost conditions must change frequently and unpredictably.
B. The number of oligopolists in the industry must be relatively small.
C. The game can be repeated only a small number of times.
D. Firms must be unable to detect the behavior of their competitors.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is:
B. The number of oligopolists in the industry must be relatively small.
Explanation:
The tit-for-tat strategy is a classic approach in repeated games, particularly in oligopoly markets, where a few firms interact repeatedly over time. It involves cooperating initially (e.g., by keeping prices high or not engaging in aggressive competition) and then mimicking the competitor’s previous action in subsequent rounds. If the competitor cooperates, you cooperate; if the competitor defects (like cutting prices), you retaliate by defecting in the next round.
For tit-for-tat to be successful, certain conditions need to be met:
- Small number of firms (Oligopoly setting):
When the number of firms in the industry is relatively small, each firm’s actions significantly affect the market and the other firms. This makes it easier to observe competitors’ behavior and to respond accordingly. With too many firms, monitoring and enforcing such strategies becomes very difficult because it is hard to detect individual defections or to punish them effectively. - Repeated interaction:
Tit-for-tat relies on the game being repeated multiple times, possibly indefinitely, so that firms have incentives to maintain cooperation to avoid future retaliation. If the game is played only a few times (contrary to option C), firms may have incentives to cheat at the end since there is no future punishment. - Ability to detect behavior:
Firms must be able to observe their rivals’ actions clearly to know when to cooperate or retaliate. If firms cannot detect competitors’ behavior (contrary to option D), tit-for-tat is ineffective because retaliation can’t be targeted correctly. - Stable environment:
If demand and cost conditions change frequently and unpredictably (contrary to option A), firms might misinterpret changes in profits or market shares as defections, leading to unnecessary retaliation and collapse of cooperation.
Summary:
The tit-for-tat strategy is most successful in markets with a small number of firms (oligopolies), where firms interact repeatedly over time and can clearly observe each other’s actions. This environment enables the establishment of cooperation through mutual understanding of consequences, deterring defection through the threat of retaliation. Hence, the small number of oligopolists is a crucial condition for the success of tit-for-tat.