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School of Economics and Finance

No. 779: An Experiment on Non-Zero Sum Colonel Blotto Games

Rafael Hortala-Vallve , London School of Economics
Aniol Llorente-Saguer , Queen Mary University of London

December 20, 2015

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Abstract

We study a version of the Colonel Blotto game where valuations across battlefields are heterogeneous and asymmetric. These games can exhibit unique pure strategy equilibria, some of which are non-monotonic with respect to the battlefield valuations. We test our theoretical predictions in the laboratory and find low initial levels of equilibrium play but substantial learning throughout the experiment. Learning is higher for games with monotonic equilibria. Finally, we find that deviations from equilibrium predictions benefit aggregate welfare.

J.E.L classification codes: C92, D70

Keywords:Colonel Blotto, Non-zero sum, Experiments

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