Issue: 2014/Vol.24/No.3, Pages 59-76

A GAME THEORETICAL STUDY OF GENERALIZED TRUST AND RECIPROCATION IN POLAND. I. THEORY AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Urszula Markowska-Przybyła, David Ramsey

Full paper (PDF)    RePEC

Cite as: U. Markowska-Przybyła, D. Ramsey. A game theoretical study of generalized trust and reciprocation in Poland. I. Theory and experimental design. Operations Research and Decisions 2014: 24(3), 59-76. DOI 10.5277/ord140304

Abstract
Although studies using experimental game theory have been carried out in various countries, no such major study has occurred in Poland. The study described here aims to investigate generalised trust and reciprocation among Polish students. In the literature, these traits are seen to be positively correlated with economic growth. Poland is regarded as the most successful post-soviet bloc country in transforming to a market economy but the level of generalised trust compared to other postcommunist countries is reported to be low. This study aims to see to what degree this reported level of generalised trust is visible amongst young Poles via experimental game theory, along with a questionnaire. The three games to be played have been described. Bayesian equilibria illustrating behaviour observed in previous studies have been derived for two of these games and the experimental procedure has been described.

Keywords: experimental game theory, Bayesian equilibrium, trust, reciprocation

Received: 1 April 2014    Accepted: 29 September 2014