archive of the former site EconWPA.wustl.edu

Please do not link or reference this page. Use one of the following URLs:
econpapers.repec.org as http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/wpawuwpem/0004002.htm
ideas.repec.org as http://ideas.repec.org/p/wpa/wuwpem/0004002.html

Inferring Strategies from Observed Actions: A Nonparametric Binary Tree Classification Approach

Paper:ewp-em/0004002
From: jcwst22+    
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2000 12:22:58 -0500
Date (revised): Thu, 2 Aug 2001 07:13:39 -0500

Title: Inferring Strategies from Observed Actions: A Nonparametric Binary Tree Classification Approach
Author: Jim Engle-Warnick(Nuffield College, University of Oxford, UK)
Contact:
Comments: Type of Document - pdf; prepared on pc; to print on any; pages: 27; figures: included
Keywords: binary tree, classifier, strategy, bargaining, nonparamtric, resampling, experimental economics
JEL: C14, C51, C63
EWPA-references:
Report-no: je-w-0001

Abstract:

This paper introduces a nonparametric binary classification tree approach to inferring unobserved strategies from the observed actions of economic agents. The strategies are in the form of possibly nested if- then statements. We apply our approach to experimental data from the repeated ultimatum game, which was conducted in four different countries by Roth et al. (1991). We find that strategy inference is consistent with existing inference, provides new explanations for subject behavior, and provides new empirically--based hypotheses regarding ultimatum game strategies. We conclude that strategy inference is potentially useful as a complementary method of statistical inference in applied research.

Acrobat pdf files:(viewing .pdf) archive: 0004002.pdf is 1412340 bytes, 7-2-101, or 0004002.pdf.gz
Access statistics for this paper at LogEc which is a part of the RePEc project as was/is EconWPA.
Translate to another language with babel.altavista.com EconWPA reference ewp-em/0004002
RePEc reference RePEc:wpa:wuwpem:0004002 send e-mail to

EconWPA began as a conversation between Bob Parks and Larry Blume on January 28, 1993. I located Paul Ginsparg's archive (then xxx.lanl.gov) and he graciously installed his software on a Sun Sparc system which was supporting the department of economics email and computation. EconWPA began accepting papers July 1, 1993 and had ftp, email, gopher and web interfaces. The web interface for submissions was engineered into existence in July 1995. A complete and catastrophic machine failure in 1999 caused the loss of EconWPA's email new paper announcment service at which time there were over 15,000 subscriptions with over 8,000 unique email addresses.

In 2005, Arts and Sciences commandeered the computing services that I had provided to the Department of Economics since 1987. Some might say that the department was sold out, others would (erroneously) claim that centralization is efficient, and still others would claim that I have few marketing skills.

I was told that I could keep operating EconWPA (as well as many other services including rfe.wustl.edu, barnett.wustl.edu, and three RePEc servers) but I would receive no support (hardware, software, or anthing else) and (as had been the case) no compensation. At that point, given the apparent low valuation of my activities by the department, and university, it made no sense for me to continue operating EconWPA or other services.

Thanks to all who have supported EconWPA in the past.

A Chinese curse states May you live in intersting times. I have. Bob Parks - Jan 2006