Systematic Approach to N -Person Social Dilemma Games: Classification and Analysis

This paper presents a new systematic review of N -person social dilemma games using a new approach based on dynamic properties of the corresponding system. Traditionally N -person social dilemma games are classified by relative orders of magnitude of payoff parameters. Without border-line cases 24 are identified. The new approach introduced in this paper categorizes the social dilemma games in cases with different number and asymptotic properties of the equilibria. In these cases the solution structure or the trajectory of the percentage of cooperators is readily apparent. These cases also provide the modeler with additional information concerning the impacts of the model parameters on the game outcomes. The example of a simple cartel illustrates this methodology.