Clock games: Theory and experiments

Publication Year
2010

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

In many situations, timing is crucial—individuals face a trade-off between gains from waiting versus the risk of being preempted. To examine this, we offer a model of clock games, which we then test experimentally. Each player's clock starts upon receiving a signal about a payoff-relevant state variable. Since the timing of the signals is random, clocks are de-synchronized. A player must decide how long, if at all, to delay his move after receiving the signal. We show that (i) delay decreases as clocks become more synchronized, and (ii) when moves are observable, players “herd” immediately after any player makes a move. Our experimental results are broadly consistent with these two key predictions of the theory.

Journal
Games and Economic Behavior
Volume
68
Pages
532 - 550
Full text

Timing games with pre-emption and waiting motive as well as information clustering.

Timing games with pre-emption and waiting motive as well as information clustering.