Suppose that each of two prisoners has the independent choice of confessing to a crime or not confessing.If neither confesses, they spend 2 years in jail; if both confess, they spend 3 years in jail; and if one confesses while the other does not, the confessor gets off with 1 year in jail while the other gets 6 years in jail.According to game theory, the likely strategy by the prisoners is:
A) both will confess.
B) neither will confess.
C) one will confess and the other will not.
D) both may or may not confess.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Given the options, confessing is the dominant strategy for both prisoners because it minimizes the maximum possible jail time they could face. If one assumes the other will not confess, confessing leads to only 1 year in jail instead of 2. If one assumes the other will confess, confessing reduces the sentence from 6 years to 3. Thus, rational self-interest leads both to confess.

Suppose That Each of Two Prisoners Has the Independent Choice