The Localization of Interaction and Learning in the Repeated Prisoner's Dilemma

Robert Hoffmann and Nigel Waring

96-08-064

The evolution of cooperation in the Repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma depends on the conditions under which the game is played. The results of a series of computer simulations show that the emergence of cooperative play in the game is strongly affected by the localizations of both interaction and learning. While the localization of learning promotes mutual cooperation, the localization of interaction has an ambiguous effect on it. Moreover, the localization of learning seems to promote disequilibrium behavior in the system.