*Title Page

Does Cheap Talk Matter? An Experimental Analysis

Dustin Tingley
Ph.D. Student, Politics
130 Corwin Hall, Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544
dtingley@princeton.edu
Barbara Walter
Professor of Political Science, UCSD
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0519, Office #1323
bfwalter@ucsd.edu
Abstract
What effect does cheap talk have on behavior in an entry-deterrence game? We shed light on
this question by using incentivized laboratory experiments of the strategic interaction between
defenders and potential entrants. Our results suggest that cheap talk can have a substantial
impact on the behavior of both the target and the speaker. By sending costless threats topotential entrants, defenders are able to deter opponents in early periods of play. And after
issuing threats, defenders become more eager to fight. We offer a number of different
explanations for this behavior. These results bring fresh evidence about the potential importanceof costless verbal communication to the field of international relations.

*Manuscript

Does Cheap Talk Matter? An Experimental Analysis

Abstract
What effect does cheap talk have on behavior in an entry-deterrence game? We shedlight on this question by using incentivized laboratory experiments of the strategicinteraction between defenders and potential entrants. Our results suggest that cheap talkcan have a substantial impact on the behavior of both the target and the speaker. By
sending costless threats to potential entrants, defenders are able to deter opponents inearly periods of play. And after issuing threats, defenders become more eager to fight.
We offer a number of different explanations for this behavior. These results bring fresh
evidence about the potential importance of costless verbal communication to the field ofinternational relations.

1

Most bargaining models assume that verbal threats or promises that exact no costson the sender will have little or no influence on those receiving the message. 1 A state
leader can claim that she will “fight hard” when elected, or “cut taxes once in office,” or“come to the aid of an ally” that is attacked, but in the absence of any punishment for not
following through, these statements are generally viewed as empty and inconsequential. 2
In reality, however, leaders engage in what could be construed as cheap talk all
the time. President Kennedy promised Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev that he would
remove American nuclear missiles from Turkey if the Soviets first removed their missiles
from Cuba. France and Great Britain promised to help Poland and Czechoslovakia
should the Germans attack. Secretary of State Dean Acheson claimed that the UnitedStates would not protect Korea in the 1950’s. And President Clinton threatened to bomb
North Korea if they continued to acquire nuclear weapons capabilities. Each of theseleaders engaged in cheap talk despite the fact that there was little reason to believe thatany of these pronouncements were true.
Cheap talk also appears, at times, to work. Kennedy’s promise to withdraw U.S.
missiles in Turkey is widely believed to have convinced Khrushchev to withdraw his

1See, for example, (Fearon 1994; Schultz 1998; Fearon 1995). For models that consider

how cheap talk might be made costly through domestic institutions and/or reputational
concerns, see (Ramsay 2004; Guisinger and Smith 2002; Sartori 2002). For models
where cheap talk can influence behavior see (Crawford and Sobel 1982; Crawford 2003;
Sobel 1985; Farrell and Gibbons 1989; Farrell 1995).
2

The literature does, however, argue that cheap talk could be effective if there isadequate overlap in the interests of the signaler and signalee (e.g., (Kydd 2003)).
2

missiles from Cuba. Clinton’s threat to bomb North Korea (together with promises ofenergy assistance) did appear to convince the North Koreans to stop their nuclear
development program, at least temporarily. 3 And in their study on bargaining, Farrel
and Gibbons found that “[t]alk is ubiquitous and is often listened to, even where no real
penalty attaches to lying, and where claims do not directly affect payoffs” (1989, pg. 222).
Verbal claims about one’s intentions may be costless, but leaders frequently use them,and they appear to influence behavior in ways we do not fully understand.
This article has two goals. The first is to determine whether costlesscommunication has any effect on behavior when used in an entry-deterrence game. If a
defender is allowed to issue a verbal threat that is both costless and private, does thischange the entrant’s and the defender’s behavior in any way? We use an incentivizedlaboratory experiment and find that cheap talk signals can influence behavior despite our
subjects having opposing preferences. The second is to theorize about why such
communication might be significant even if everyone knows it is costless. Here we
consider the role honesty and common knowledge play in shaping strategic decisions.
Empirically, there are at least three ways to determine whether leaders rely on
costless signaling, and if they do, whether these messages are persuasive. The first is tocollect and analyze observational data. One could, for example, study all verbal
communication that took place between the United States and the Soviet Union overnuclear weapons during the Cold War to see whether these messages influenced either
party in any way. The problem with such a study is that it suffers from two difficult-toresolve methodological problems. The first is that cheap talk games tend to be sensitive3

For more examples see Davis (2000).
3

to initial beliefs and controlling for these beliefs is hard to do in large N studies.
Khrushchev, for example, may have already developed a reputation for toughness when
he began communicating with Kennedy. The second is that cheap talk and costly
signaling often co-occur, making it difficult to isolate and identify the independent effectsof the very cheapest form of communication. 4 Observational data, therefore, tends to beunreliable.
A second approach would rely on qualitative case studies to trace when and how
leaders engage in cheap talk and its potential effects on behavior. Studies do exist thatlook at relations between countries and include cheap talk as indicators, but these studies
do not attempt to isolate the effect of these statements on behavior (e.g., see (Foster2006)). Even if a study did situate itself in the bargaining literature, this approach would
also have disadvantages. A small number of case studies can confirm whether
individuals in those cases communicated with each other in a costless way, and if thosemessages had any effect, but they could not confirm whether this behavior was morewidespread.
A third approach – laboratory experiments – circumvents both these problems. In
a laboratory experiment the researcher can isolate costless signals and theirconsequences, while controlling for confounding factors. In this way, the experiment can4

One exception is Thyne (2006) which is one of the few papers that attempts to isolate

cheap talk in a large N study. Schrodt (1993) presents a time series showing the dynamicof US-Soviet Relations, US-China Relations and Israeli-Palestinian relations using the
COPDAB and WEIS datasets. However, cheap talk events are mixed with other eventsand are, therefore, difficult to evaluate.
4

reveal whether threats and promises are actually used, whether they directly changed
behavior, and if they did change behavior, under what conditions. Laboratory
experiments, however, are not without their own drawbacks. Since subjects tend to beundergraduate students as opposed to state leaders, the findings cannot be generalized tofield settings. It is possible that state leaders use verbal communication differently fromundergraduates even when placed in a similar context.5 Still, an empirical test of cheap
talk in the laboratory will reveal whether the hypothesized relationships emerge underideal conditions, and help advance the debate beyond the question of whether cheap talkmatters, to a more constructive discussion of when, how and why it might be used.
In what follows, we set up a simple experiment to determine whether individuals
engage in cheap talk and if they do, whether it changes behavior. The experimentcompares how individuals conduct themselves in an entry-deterrence game with onesided incomplete information when cheap talk is not allowed and when it is. What we
find is surprising. Verbal threats had significant effects on the behavior of both thesender and the target. Even though threats were completely costless, targets were more
likely to back down if they received a threat, and senders were more likely to act on thosethreats. In short, when individuals engaged in cheap talk in the laboratory– and theyalmost always did when given the chance – it changed the behavior of everyone involved.
This suggests that even the most costless form of verbal communication can be
influential, at least in certain circumstances.

5

In the absence of additional testing this possibility cannot be ruled out. Ours is a firststep in that direction.
5

The remainder of the paper is broken down into four sections. The first section
reviews current theories and findings on cheap talk in both the international relations andeconomics literature. Section two introduces our experimental design, presents sometheoretical predictions, and explains our empirical strategy. Section three reveals theresults of these experiments and offers an explanation for why cheap talk is powerfuleven though most bargaining models would not expect it to be. Here we highlight thepotentially important roles that honest and incompetent individuals can play in changing
the incentives of the game. In the final section we discuss the contributions this study
makes to international relations, as well as avenues for future research.
I. What We Know Theoretically and Empirically About Cheap Talk in IR
The international relations literature has been divided between those who argue
that costless verbal communication can be informative and those who argue that itprovides little or no information at all. In one camp are the constructivists, who assertthat things like persuasion, argumentation, and rhetoric can play a critical role in politics
and diplomacy. According to Finnemore and Sikkink, “IR scholars have tended to treat
speech either as “cheap talk,” to be ignored, or as bargaining, to be folded into strategicinteraction. However, speech can also persuade; it can change people’s minds about
what goals are valuable and about the roles they play (or should play) in social life”(2001, pg. 402) 6 Significant anecdotal evidence seems to support this camp’s view.
Throughout history, state leaders have engaged in all sorts of verbal and symbolic
communications even if, on the surface, it appears shallow.

6

See also (Risse 2000).
6

Formal models of interstate relations, however, consistently find that costlesscommunication or “cheap talk” should not matter. 7 If two states have opposing
preferences and incomplete information about each other’s payoffs, costless messages
provide no additional information about what the sender is likely to do. This is because
all players have incentives to make similar claims whether they are true or not. It is only
when real costs are attached to the messages that sincere senders can be distinguishedfrom those who are just bluffing (Fearon 1995, pg. 396).
Existing empirical studies suggest that the formal models are correct. In a studyof militarized disputes between 1816 and 1993, Sartori (2005) found that verbal
communication in the form of diplomacy could change an adversary’s mind about its
desire to fight, but only if the sender had already invested heavily in the credibility ofthese messages through the costly use of force. Thyne (2006) found that cheap signals
could actually have negative consequences. In a study of civil wars, he found thatnegotiations were more likely to fail if one of the disputants used hostile costless signals. 8
The only evidence in favor of cheap talk comes from laboratory experiments
where the preferences of the sender and the target are aligned. Cooper et al. (1989) andCrawford (1998) found that in a battle of the sexes game, costless communication

7

Though some recent work in IR suggests that increasing the number of bargaining

dimensions allows cheap talk to be informative when bargaining over a single dimension
would not allow for this (Trager 2009).
8

Thyne theorized that this was in part because parties were more likely to makeexcessive demands when costless communication was used (pg. 957).
7

allowed players to coordinate on an outcome, making successful cooperation possible. 9
Similarly, in a public goods game with incomplete information about private
endowments, Palfrey and Rosenthal (1991) found that subjects regularly conditioned
their behavior on the cheap talk message they received, but did not obtain more efficient
outcomes as a result. 10 Majesky and Fricks (1995) found that cooperation was more
likely in a prisoner’s dilemma game if cheap talk was allowed. In all these cases, cheap
talk worked, but only because each side already had an interest in cooperating.
The problem is that many interactions in the world of international relations occur
under conditions where players have conflicting preferences. World leaders often benefit
from deceiving and misleading each other and frequently do not want to cooperate. Not
surprisingly, the few experiments structured around conflictual situations have failed tofind that cheap talk had any lasting influence on behavior. Forsythe and colleagues, forexample, found that in a bargaining game with one-sided incomplete information

9

The form of costless communication may also matter. Isaac and Walker (1988) andOstom et al. (1992) found that in a public goods provision game, subjects were more
likely to contribute larger sums of money if verbal pledges were made face-to-face rather
than anonymously.
10

However, subjects did not ultimately obtain more efficient outcomes as a result. In

other experiments, Wilson and Sell found that subjects contributed more in a public goodgame when pre-play communication was allowed and information existed about past
behavior (1997). Wilson and Sell did, however, find, surprisingly, that subjects
contributed the most when they could not communicate with each other and had no
information about past behavior.
8

individuals did not behave much differently if they were allowed to communicate cheaply
versus if they were not allowed to communicate at all (Forsythe et al. 1991). 11 Similarly,
Croson and colleagues found that in an ultimatum game with incomplete information
about outside options cheap talk affected behavior, but only temporarily. 12 Subjects
could increase their short term bargaining outcomes by using cheap talk, but would bepunished in the long term if they chose to lie (Croson et al. 2003). 13 Finally, in an nperson market entry game, Sundali and Seale (2004) found that entrants exaggerated theirintention to enter when given the chance, but that this did not influence how others
played the game. The balance of experimental results, therefore, suggests that cheap talkwill have very little influence on behavior in more conflict-prone settings.
In what follows, we investigate the effects of cheap talk in an experiment that
more closely models a wider range of IR interactions. Specifically, we examine theinfluence of cheap talk when there are incentives to build reputations that could influence11

Uncertainty in this game was over the size of a resource to be divided.

12

This was the case if it was possible to detect lying.

13

Our interest is in line with that of Croson and colleagues in that we are interested in therole of cheap talk in bargaining environments. Our investigation differs from theirs inseveral important ways. They looked at the role of reputation between a pair of actors
who repeatedly interacted with each other. Our study looks at behavior where a single“defender” faces a series of different challengers (“strangers” design as opposed to a“partners” design). The strategic game we study also differs. They use a repeatedultimatum game with outside options, whereas we use a repeated entry-deterrence game.
9the choices of future actors. 14 We believe that by examining the role of cheap talk in acommon strategic situation in international relations, we can begin to understand the
puzzle state leaders present for our theoretical models. If cheap talk really serves little
positive purpose in most conflict situations, why do world leaders so frequently use it?
III. Cheap Talk and Entry-Deterrence
In what follows, we introduce a game in international relations that allows us to
study the effects of cheap talk in situations where players have strong incentives todeceive each other, especially in early periods of the game. We have chosen an entrydeterrence game for three reasons. First, it is relatively common in international affairs
for governments to use verbal threats as part of an attempt to deter potential challengers.
China’s verbal pronouncements against any move by Taiwan to declare independence, or
its threats against separatist regions are real-world examples of this type of game.
Second, an entry-deterrence game has a simple sequential structure which allows us toobserve when defenders choose to issue threats, and how different entrants react to any
threat they may receive. Finally, the experimental economics literature on reputationbuilding is surprisingly quiet on the role of cheap talk in this type of repeated bargaining
environment (see below). Thus, there are good substantive and methodological reasonsfor choosing this particular game.

14

Our experiment differs from Sundali and Seale (2004)– the most closely related

experiment - in several respects. First, our defenders faced a sequence of entrants. In theirexperiment everyone played the same role (entrant) and decided whether or not to enter amarket. Second, there is no incomplete information or chance for reputation building.
10

We begin by presenting the simple game of one-sided incomplete information.
We then characterize the sequential equilibrium of a repeated version of the game with nocommunication (and hence no cheap talk), and then consider how we would expect cheap
talk to influence behavior.
The Structure of the GameThe game is straightforward. In it, a defender faces a series of potential entrants
who must decide whether to challenge the defender or stay quiet. The defender, in turn,
must decide whether to fight entry or allow the challenger to enter. Figure one reveals
the structure of a single-shot play of the game as well as the payoffs each of the players
knows it will receive for the different outcomes. 15
Figure 1: The Structure of a Single-Shot PlayThe game begins with nature randomly choosing whether the defender iscommitted (strong) or uncommitted (weak) to fighting a challenge with probability p.
This introduces the element of uncertainty necessary for reputation building to occur. If
the defender is committed, it will always prefer to fight entry rather than acquiesce since
this will always deliver better payoffs (see Figure 1). If it is uncommitted, it would prefer15

Payoff parameters are from Jung, Kagel and Levin (1994).
11

to acquiesce rather than pay the costs of war. 16 Once nature has chosen the defender’stype, the entrant must decide whether to challenge (C) or remain not challenge (~C).
The key to the game is that the entrant does not know whether it is facing adefender who is committed (in which case the entrant would prefer not to challenge), or adefender who is uncommitted (in which case the entrant would prefer to challenge). If
the entrant decides to challenge, the defender then chooses whether to fight (F) thischallenger or concede (~F).
In the repeated play version of this game, once the defender makes his or her
choice, a second entrant then chooses whether to challenge, after which the defenderagain decides whether to fight or accommodate. As each entrant plays, they obtain
information about how previous entrants played against the defender they are currently
matched with, and how the defender played if the previous entrant decided to challenge.
Thus, they are able to update their beliefs about what type of defender they are likely toface. The game continues until the defender has been pitted against a commonly known
number of entrants. 17 How the defender behaves toward an early entrant, therefore, can

16

In this case, the payoffs are 160 for not fighting a challenger and 70 for fighting achallenger.
17

Walter (2006) discusses cases with multiple different entrants. In order to keep theframework consistent with earlier work on the entry-deterrence game we only analyze
repeated play between different opponents. The game could also be played repeatedly
between a defender and a single entrant. This would be similar to a situation where agovernment engaged in a series of continuing disputes with a single ethnic group, where12

be interpreted as important information about how the defender is likely to behave toward
later entrants.
For our analysis of the role of cheap talk, we had our subjects play the game twodifferent ways. In one version, they engage in the game exactly as we described it
without any communication between the defender and entrants. In the second version,
defenders are given the opportunity to issue a costless threat. Our test of cheap talk,therefore, entailed a simple addition to the game. Each defender sent a signal to eachpotential entrant. They could either issue a message that said they would fight if facedwith entry or they could send a message that said that they would not fight. 18
A critical feature of this communication is that it is private. No other player otherthan the current challenger was able to see the message. This allowed us to observe thethe ethnic group demanded greater and greater concessions over time (e.g., the Canadiangovernment’s relationship with the Parti Quebecois).
18

We considered a number of other options for the message space. We could haveallowed subjects to select not sending a message at all. Or we could have allowed thesubjects to choose a costly signal. While each of these additions would have improved
the correspondence between the communication options available to real decision makers
and those in our experiment, each would have introduced their own complications boththeoretically (cheap talk models typically assume that some message is sent) andempirically (conditioning our analysis on three or four message options instead of two
would exacerbate sample size problems). Others in this experimental literature share ourapproach (Palfrey and Rosenthal 1991, pg. 188). For an interesting study of open
communication and threats in an IR simulation experiment, see McDermott et al. (2002).
13

messages in their most costless form. Since none of the messages can be observed byany other player – a fact made very clear both in our instructional period and during theexperiment—there were no incentives for the sender to follow through with threats for
reputational reasons. 19 Thus, senders gained no additional deterrent value by publicly
validating their threats. This creates a situation where talk is truly “cheap” and no costs
can be imposed on the sender for not following through.
Theoretical Predictions About Cheap Talk
If no cheap talk is allowed, the standard entry-deterrence model – as outlined by
Kreps and Wilson (1982) and Milgrom and Roberts (1982) –makes three predictions
about how the defender should play. 20 First, strong-type defenders should always fightno matter what period they are in. Second, weak defenders should play a strategy that
depends on how many entrants remain. Weak defenders know that if they acquiesce tothe first challenger this will immediately reveal their type and this information will
trigger a wave of additional challenges. Weak defenders, therefore, have the incentive to
bluff in early periods—fighting early entrants—and then acquiescing with increasingly
probability as the number of remaining entrants declines. The third prediction is thatentrants should base their strategy on information they can glean about the type of
defender they are facing and the incentives this defender has to build a tough reputation
over time. If a defender backed down in an earlier period, entrants know they are facing
a weak or uncommitted opponent, and they should always enter. If the defender never

19This is especially true since defenders know that they will interact with each entrant

only once.
20

These predictions are based on a sequential equilibrium solution.
14

backed down, entrants should never enter in the early periods, since both weak and strong
defenders will fight in early periods. They should then be more likely to enter during the
middle and latter periods (knowing that weak defenders will be increasingly likely toback down at these times).
Importantly, allowing cheap talk alters none of these predictions. Sequential
equilibria from the formal model indicate that the defender and the entrants should notchange their behavior if cheap talk is possible. 21 This is because cheap talk does not alter
the defender’s or the entrant’s payoffs in any way. Furthermore cheap talk provides no
new information about the defender’s type. Entrants should know that weak defenders
will have an incentive to try and appear as if they were strong defenders, and hence issue
threats. 22 Leaders can threaten to take action, but unless lying is costly to them, which it
is not in our setup, it should not affect whether they fight or whether entrants choose tochallenge.
The model, therefore, makes two predictions about the effect of cheap talk:H1: Defenders who issue a threat to fight will not deter any more entrants thanthose who do not issue a threat.

21

To our knowledge no one has worked out the cheap talk version of the repeated entry

deterrence game. We present our equilibrium analyses in an appendix designed for online posting. We show that in a single shot version of the game only a pooling
equilibrium exists, and no separating or semi-separating equilibria exist. Our analysis
shows that this holds in the repeated game setting as well.
22

Although saying that you will not fight (which is off the equilibrium path) will almost

certainly signal weakness.
15

H2: Defenders who threaten to fight should be no more likely to fight than those
who did not.
Experimental Design
Again, our experimental design had two separate parts. The first did not allow
communication, while the second did. In all cases, subjects were randomly assigned totwo separate positions, entrants and defenders, which were referred to simply as firstmovers and second movers. 23 These neutral terms were used in order to avoid leading
the subjects in any way. Defenders were also assigned a type, either weak or strong,which were called ‘type 1’ or ‘type 2’. As indicated by the payoffs in Figure 1, strong
23

Subjects were recruited through a university social science laboratory using an e-mailsolicitation to all students who had signed up with the lab. Those who responded were
accepted until all positions were filled. Subjects were only allowed to participate in theexperiment one time. Students entered the laboratory one by one and were seated atcomputer workstations that were separated by pull out dividers to prevent interaction
between subjects. Instructions were then read to all participants. During this process
subjects were given the opportunity to make practice decisions and review a set ofquestions and answers about the experiment. Any questions from subjects were repeated
and answered so that all subjects could hear. This ensured that all aspects of theexperiment design were common-knowledge. Subjects were paid one by one at the endof the experiment with money earned in the experiment and a guaranteed $10 ‘show-up’
fee. The experiment was programmed and conducted with the software z-Tree(Fischbacher 1999). Our design, instructions, and computer interface went through alengthy piloting period in order to obtain the best possible experimental protocol, areprovided for review and will be available on the author’s webpage.
16

types prefer fighting after entry whereas weak types do not. Entrants were not told who
was a strong or weak type - only that there was a one-third chance that any defender wasstrong. Each defender faced a sequence of eight entrants in a single repetition of thegame, and this number was known to everyone. When an entrant was paired with adefender they played the game illustrated in Figure 1 a single time. 24 Entrants were also
given information on how the defender played against all other previous entrants. If aprevious entrant had chosen to challenge the defender, all subsequent entrants would see
whether the defender had backed down or stayed tough. If an entrant chose not tochallenge, no information about the defender’s choice would be recorded.
The experiment proceeded as follows. Entrants faced the defenders sequentially.
Within a pairing, entrants were asked to choose between entering the game and thus
challenging the defender, or not entering. We elicited defender choices using thestrategy method: defenders were asked to select a strategy based on what an entrant mightdo: ‘if the first mover enters I will choose B1 or B2 (not fight or fight). 25 Each entrant

24

All matching was entirely anonymous with subjects seated at separate partitioned

computer terminals.
25

We did this to observe the decision of a defender even when their opponent did notchoose to enter. While in principle the mechanism of strategy solicitation can influence
choices, there is considerable debate on this (Brandts and Charness 2000; McLeish andOxoby 2004; Bosig et al. 2003). We note that behavior in our no communication
treatment is very similar to that observed by (Bolton and Ockenfels 2007) whom elicitedstrategies sequentially. It is important to note that our design is not equivalent to using the17made one decision with no available history (in the first period), one decision with aprevious period’s history against a different defender (in the second period), and so on. 26
At the end of each repetition (after each entrant had played each defender once), subjects
saw a screen with their decision history, the decisions of the subject they were pairedwith in each period, and their own payoffs. 27 Subjects knew that these payoffs would betranslated into US dollars at the end of the experiment. Subjects then repeated theexperiment. 28 Each repetition was done five times in order to account for the effects oflearning and to generate sufficient data for the analysis. 29
After completing the five repetitions, subjects were told that we were making aslight change in the experiment. We explained that defenders would now be able tonormal form version of the entry-deterrence game. Furthermore, we compare twotreatments that used the same protocol to identify the effect of cheap talk.
26

This design allowed us to keep all subjects engaged throughout the experiment, as wellas maximize the amount of data we could collect within an experimental session.
27

Payoffs to other players were not revealed in order to isolate the effect of learning

across instead of within repetitions of the 8 period experimental round.
28

Across repetitions of the experiment all positions (first mover/second mover) stayed

the same, entrants were randomly assigned when they would move against each defender,and defender types (strong/weak) were randomly re-assigned according to the commonly
known distribution of types.
29

The precise number of repetitions was unknown to subjects; they were simply told thatthe experiment “may or may not be repeated” in order to limit attempts to build
reputations across repetitions.
18communicate to entrants whether they would fight or not. Defenders could do this bysending the following message through the computer: “if you choose enter, I will [fight,
not fight]. 30 This message was seen only by the immediate entrant and not by later
entrants. Everything else in the experiment was the same as our baseline design andsubjects were not told during the no-communication treatment that they would at somepoint have the option to communicate. 31 Hence our cheap talk experiment was run on aset of subjects with experience in the strategic environment of the repeated entrydeterrence game, but no prior experience with cheap talk. We identify the role of cheap
talk by comparing behavior across the two treatments. An online appendix provides
additional details and full subject instructions.
Results and Interpretation
Our goal in running the experiment was to collect data on how subjects playedwhen no cheap talk was allowed versus how they played when it was. 32 We did this to30

Our experiment used neutral descriptions, and thus subjects actually chose between “I

will (not) choose B1 if you choose A1”. We did not allow subjects to not send a message.
31

All subjects kept either their entrant or defender roles.

32

Our empirical strategy for all of our hypotheses is to break defenders out by those who

had already backed down and those that had not. We also break out entrants into thosethat face a defender who had not yet backed down, and those that faced a defender who
had. We do this because the equilibrium model we discuss above makes this importantdistinction, and we do not want to conflate reputational effects with the effect of cheap
talk. Next, we calculate either the mean rate of a behavior (e.g., taking the average ofcases where entry=1 and no entry=0) and calculating test statistics using standard
19

answer two questions. First, would entrants be deterred by cheap talk threats or would
they be equally likely to challenge in the face of a threat (H1)? Second, would defenders
who issued a cheap talk threat be more likely to fight than those who did not, or would it
have no effect at all (H2)? The results, which we discuss below, are striking.
Hypothesis 1: Entrants should not be deterred by cheap talk threats
Contrary to the implications of the formal model, cheap talk had a significant
effect in our experiment. Potential entrants were more likely to be deterred when weallowed cheap talk than when we did not allow cheap talk. Figure 2 shows the entry rates
of entrants across the two different experimental manipulations at each period in thegame conditional on the defender not having back down in a previous time period. Laterwe consider cases where the defender has backed down. The figure reveals a dramaticdifference in entry rates in the early periods - particularly in the first period. Whencommunication is not allowed, fully 83% percent of entrants enter in the first round.
However, when defenders are able to issue a verbal threat and chose to issue this threat,
the high rates of entry in the first period disappear. When defenders engage in cheap talk,
only 38% percent of potential challengers enter in the first round. That is a striking 45%
percent decrease in the probability of entry and is significant at p<.01. This difference
occurred despite the fact that the very same entrants were making these decisions.
The difference persists into the second period. As can been seen in Figure 2,
there is a perceptible but not quite significant advantage to issuing a threat in the second
time period. The small size of the difference in period two is, in part, due to combining

difference in means tests. Tests using differences in proportions produce nearly identicalresults.
20

two different groups of observations: entrants that faced a defender who had previously
faced entry, and entrants who faced a defender that was not challenged in the first period.
Once we consider this difference, it is clear that cheap talk still has a large effect in thesecond time period. In period two, when entrants faced a defender who had previously
faced entry, the entry rate without communication was 25% but was a much lower 11%
when a threat was sent. The effect of cheap talk was even larger when entrants faced adefender who had not been challenged in period one. In this case, the entry rate was
100% when communication was not possible and 52% when a threat was sent. Bothdifferences were significant at p<.01. Importantly, since these results are conditioning on
no previous backing down by the defender, the effect of cheap talk is a pure one. These
results are unexpected. When entrants had little to no information about the type of
defender they were facing, they were significantly more likely to be influenced by themessages they received even though these messages were costless.
Not surprisingly, the more information entrants were able to gather acrossperiods, the less influential cheap talk became. As can be seen in Figure 2, costless
threats did not continue to deter after the second time period, and by later rounds they
actually caused entrants to be slightly more likely to challenge. We believe the influenceof cheap talk declines over time because entrants obtain more reliable information about
defender behavior by observing what the defender had done in the past against otherentrants. Rather than having to rely solely on verbal promises, entrants could observe
how a defender behaved against other challengers in previous rounds, and tie theirstrategies to these more dependable data.
The results so far suggest that cheap talk can work when little observable
information is available on which entrants can make decisions. But what if entrants
21already have information that strongly suggests that the defender is weak? About 46% of
the time, weak defenders chose to back down whereas less than 1% of strong defenders
chose the not fight option. Entrants who observe a defender backing down can be fairly
certain that they are facing a weak defender since strong defenders so rarely acquiesce.
Can threats in this case—where presumably the defender’s reputation for resolve has
been lost— still make a difference?
Figure 3 suggests that they can. In Figure 3 we compare the relative probabilityof entry in the cheap talk versus the non cheap talk experiment for each time period in
those cases where the defender had already backed down. Even in this extreme case,cheap talk still mattered. Entrants were still less likely to challenge in every period if athreat had been issued even if the defender had already revealed herself to be
uncommitted. Due to the small number of cases, the difference is not significant in every
individual time period but when we pool across all periods where there are observationsin the threat and no-threat categories, we observe a highly significant difference between
the cheap talk and non cheap talk versions of the game. Without communication, 95% ofentrants chose to enter when their opponent had backed down previously, whereas only
85% entered after receiving a cheap talk threat (t=2.56, p<.05). This suggests that even a
costless threat by a non-credible player has some deterrent value.
Hypothesis 2: Defenders that threaten should not be more likely to fight.
Costless verbal threats clearly influence whether entrants chose to fight or not inearly periods of the game. But did it affect how defenders played? According to thelogic of our formal model, defenders should not be more likely to fight after issuing athreat since there is no punishment for not following through. Did defenders who wereallowed to threaten change their behavior in any way?
22

Our experiment reveals that weak defenders, at least early on, were more likely tofight if they said they would fight. 33 Figure 4 illustrates the rate of fighting across thetwo versions of the experiment by time period, and reveals that this difference is mostpronounced in period 1 and then disappears after the first period. 34 Defenders are more
likely to follow through in the very first period, and then taper off after that.
Interestingly, this follow-through brings the behavior of weak defenders closer to theequilibrium predictions of the formal model with no communication. 35
We were also able to see if the same subject changed his or her behavior whenallowed to issue a threat. We found that 90% of our defenders increased the percentage

33

We focus on the behavior of weak defenders because strong defenders should always

fight (and almost always do). We exclude the first repetition of each treatment because
behavior of defenders changed significantly in the no communication design from thefirst to the second repetition, where fight rates increased in all of our sessions. Including
this repetition made the differences more significant because it decreased the proportionof defenders that fought in the no communication treatment.
34

This is in part because the remaining weak types in the no communication design were

the set of people that subsequently resisted in almost all of the remaining periods of play.
These subjects were a subset of the subject sample that regularly played a much tougher
strategy than other weak type defenders.
35

Perhaps, as we will note below, after issuing a threat, defenders feel it would bedishonest to not follow through on that threat.
23

of times they fought in the first period if they were allowed to issue a threat. 36 Moreover,the change was usually large. On average, the same defenders were 16 percent more
likely to fight when they had issued a threat than when they did not have the opportunity
to issue a threat – a rate that is significantly different than 0 (t=2.05, p=.06). 37 Whether
measured in the aggregate or at the individual level, cheap talk has a real effect on the
behavior of individuals who engage in it.
These results indicate that cheap talk affects the behavior of defenders who havenot previously backed down. But what happens after defenders have already signaled
their type by backing down? Presumably, there is even less reason to follow through on
threats in these cases.
Remarkably, costless communication still matters. As Figure 5 shows, cheap talkaffects the behavior of defenders even after they had backed down. In each time period,
the probability of fighting is higher when cheap talk is allowed than it is when cheap talk36

Here we calculated the total number of times that a subject chose to fight in the first

period when they were assigned a weak defender role. We then divided this by the total
number of times a subject was a weak defender in the first period (recall that type was
randomly assigned and hence subjects might have different number of times that they
played a weak defender role). This gives us a value between 0 and 1. We calculated thisvalue separately for each treatment and each subject, and took the difference between
these values for our subjects in the defender role.
37

This suggests that across treatment, differences at the aggregate level move in the same

direction as differences we observe within individual subjects; our aggregate differences
are not driven by a single subject radically changing their behavior.
24

is not allowed. If we pool across periods 2-8, 13% of subjects in the cheap talk treatment
decide to fight, whereas less than 5% percent decide to fight in the no communication
treatment (t=-2.25, p<.05). 38, 39
V. Explaining the Power of Cheap Talk
Our experiment investigated the role of cheap talk in a repeated entry-deterrence
game and revealed that verbal communication can influence behavior in ways not
captured by much of the formal and empirical literature in international relations. Verbal
threats not only decreased an entrant’s eagerness to challenge but also increased adefender’s willingness to fight. Cheap talk may be costless, but it successfully deterred
entrants and made defenders more willing to fight, at least in early rounds of our repeated
game.
These findings bring us back to our original puzzle. If promises and threats are
not worth the paper they are written on, as Samuel Goldwyn once said, why would
anyone believe them, and even more puzzling, why would anyone follow through? One
explanation relates to the willingness to lie. It is possible that some players do not
engage in cheap talk because they prefer to be honest even if this means fewer payoffs asa result. If this were true, a separating equilibrium would emerge where “honest”

38

There are no observations in period 1 because there were no previous periods in whicha player could back down.
39

Unpooling across periods radically reduces the sample size for which to conduct

statistical tests. Thus it is not surprising that unpooling our analysis generates lesssignificant test statistics for each period (results available from authors).
25defenders would never threaten, and those who threatened would be more likely to follow
through.
The idea that some people may be less willing to lie, and therefore, less willing toengage in cheap talk has found support in psychology studies. There is some evidence,for example, that men are more willing to lie than women (Keltikangas-Jarvinen and
Lindeman 1997). There is also evidence that more extraverted individuals are more
willing to deceive than more introverted ones (Weiss and Feldman 2006). 40 If it is truethat certain “honest” individuals never engage in cheap talk, then the threats that are
made are likely to be more credible and more effective as a result. 41
The fact that costless threats affect entrant behavior even if defenders had alreadybacked down lends more credence to this view. Under these circumstances, the defender
has already revealed its type – weak or strong – and a costless signal at this point
provides absolutely no information. But if that costless signal is sometimes an honest
indication of what the defender is going to do, then even at this late stage of the game it
can still provide information. Honest defenders who have backed down once may be

40

Similarly, Majeski and Fricks (1995) found that some subjects who were more selfish

were willing to use communication to exploit others, although the authors were unable toisolate how subjects did this.
41

As we mentioned earlier, not all defenders chose to issue a threat. Eleven percent of

weak defenders sent a signal that they would not fight. Fully 98% of the weak defenders
who sent a signal that they would not fight ended up not choosing to fight. This ismarkedly lower rate of fighting than weak defenders who signaled that they would fight.
26

revealing whether they are likely to back down again. Thus, the signal may still besomewhat credible.
But what about the behavior of defenders? At first glance, it is not clear why
weak defenders would be more likely to fight after issuing a threat. Since allcommunication is private (only the target receives the message) there is no reputational
gain or loss for executing a threat. The defender also does not increase his or her payoffs
by following through since the payoff structure is the same whether threats are issued ornot.
We believe that honesty may play a role here as well. It is possible that somedefenders gain psychological value from following through with their threats. Subjects
who signal that they will fight and then choose not to follow through on that threat will
have lied to their opponents. That may be easy for many of us to do, but it may be harderfor others. To avoid the cognitive dissonance of speaking one way and acting another,some defenders may choose to follow through with their threats. There is, in fact, a large
literature suggesting that cognitive dissonance is uncomfortable and that we often engage
in complex actions to minimize this tension (Zimbardo and Leippe 1991; Festinger
1957). It is possible, therefore, that some defenders either feel obliged to follow throughwith a promise or prefer to follow through with that promise to avoid uncomfortableemotional feelings.
There is, however, a second possible explanation for at least some of the behaviorof our subjects. One of the assumptions formal models make is that defenders andentrants interact under conditions of common knowledge. That means that everyone
operates under the assumption that everyone understands the game and will play
optimally as a result. It is possible, however, that common knowledge does not exist
27

either in the laboratory or in the real world. Instead, a number of subjects may
understand that some individuals will not “get” the game and will play poorly because ofthis. Mistakes may be made because some players misconstrue how the game should beplayed, misinterpret the instructions, or simply play irrationally for different idiosyncratic
reasons. If this were true, cheap talk could be used by savvier subjects to signal to eachother that they understand the game, ensuring that a higher proportion of efficientdecisions are made. 42 In this case, it would once again be rational to respond to threats –however costless they may be.
This alternate explanation is especially plausible in the case of entrant behavior.
Given that a threat is costless, a defender who threatens early in the game is playing
exactly as one would expect him or her to play. Likewise, a player that does not issue athreat may be indicating that they do not fully understand the game. Thus, sending athreat or not sending a threat signals to the entrant something about the sophistication of
their opponent. Knowing that your opponent is likely to play the game correctly by

42

An argument similar to this was made by Vincent Crawford in an attempt to explain

why deception might work (2003). Instead of having a distribution of honest types, as we
argue may be the case, he considered that some people may be more easily ‘fooled’ thanothers. This creates a similar separation of types where rational players know that
costless verbal communication will deceive at least those individuals who are lessrational, making cheap talk sensible. This again suggests that there is a wider range ofindividuals than most models assume, and that certain types of individuals will behave
quite differently from what existing models would expect.
28

fighting in these early rounds allows entrants to coordinate on the correct response, which
is not to enter with a higher probability.
This common knowledge explanation, however, does not explain why defenders
are especially apt to fight after issuing threats. 43 Once defenders have issued a threat,
they have signaled how they plan to play and have gained all the value they can bycreating common knowledge. If an entrant still chooses to enter, defenders garner noadditional value by following through with their threats. In fact, under somecircumstances, follow through can lead to diminished payoffs. Thus, there is no reason to
expect the savviest players to be significantly more likely to follow through on their own
threats. Future research will try to tease out what motivates individuals to follow up on
their threats, perhaps by exploring models of cognitive consistency.
Conclusion
International relations has been skeptical about whether costless verbal
communications have any influence on behavior despite the fact that state leaders engage
in threats and promises all the time. In this paper, we put cheap talk to a particularly hard
test: a situation where the preferences of the players are opposed and threats are private
and costless. We expected that in an entry deterrence game where entrants wereuncertain about whether defenders would fight, the use of costless threats would notchange entrant and defender behavior in any way.

43

It is, however, worth noting that this follow-through brings the behavior of weak

defenders closer to the equilibrium predictions with no communication. The moreconsistent early period fighting of the defenders who issued a threat may be an indicationthat they understand the game better.
29

Controlling for confounding factors, our laboratory experiment revealed just the
opposite. If a defender threatened to fight an entrant, that entrant was significantly lesslikely to challenge, and the defender was significantly more likely to fight especially inearly rounds of the game. This occurred despite the fact that defenders suffered nopunishment for failing to follow through with a threat; no additional entrants would know
about the bluff and no other costs would be incurred. These findings bring academic
research closer to what we have been observing in the real world. State leaders routinely
issue verbal promises and threats, both publicly and privately, and sometimes thesethreats influence behavior.
Why did formal models miss these effects? We believe it has to do with at least
one incorrect assumption underlying the models. Standard models assume that if there isa potential advantage to acting one way, all players will act to maximize that potential
advantage. In other words, all players will act to maximize payoffs. Our laboratory
experiment suggests that this assumption is not true, at least among the population ofundergraduates we studied. Even among this relatively homogeneous subject pool, there
appeared to be significantly more heterogeneity of preferences than the models predicted.
The most important difference in terms of its effect on cheap talk was the existence ofindividuals who appeared to be averse to lying. The fact that a subset of subjects may
have preferred honesty over money created an opening that may have allowed cheap talkto become influential. In the absence of these honest individuals no separating
equilibrium would have emerged, and verbal threats would have provided no
information. We also do not rule out other differences in terms of skill and the existenceof individuals who did not fully comprehend the game. The prospect that some subjects
could play the game poorly, may have allowed savvier defenders to signal their30

understanding of the game. Thus, the existence of honest and bumbling players in agiven population may make even costless verbal messages rational and effective.
This does not mean that the same heterogeneity exists in the wider world, oramongst state leaders engaged in their own entry deterrence games. State leaders may be
more willing to lie than the undergraduates we studied at Princeton. They may also be
far more adept at navigating a complex strategic game. We strongly suspect, however,that the heterogeneity we found in the laboratory is not significantly different from theheterogeneity we are likely to find amongst leaders considering deterrence games in thewider world.
Thus, our research represents the beginning of a long agenda aimed atunderstanding why cheap talk matters and equally importantly, why cheap talk seems tobe so influential under some circumstances and not others. The preceding paragraphs are
an initial attempt to explain why our subjects behaved the way they did, but significantly
more work needs to be done. We do not know, for example, what biases, beliefs ormental handicaps our subjects brought to the laboratory. We have some quotes from thesubjects themselves, but their responses are unreliable and in need of additional analysis.
To this end there are a range of additional experimental designs that may help
explain why cheap talk is more powerful than our existing theoretical approaches havepredicted. Heterogeneity in individual behavior suggests that more could be done tounderstand differences across subjects. Additional information could be garnered bymore extensive pre and post-experiment psychological batteries which might reveal
correlations between behavior in the game and propensity to engage in other types of
behavior (e.g., deceitful behavior). Akin to thinking about differences in individuals aredifferences across subject pools. We hope to extend our analyses to more targeted subject
31

pools such as military officers and diplomatic officials (Mintz 2004). Finally, theecological validity of the experiment could be increased (e.g., by making the decisioncontext more concrete instead of abstractly described). All of these represent
opportunities for future research that could be built on the results reported in this paper.
To date, laboratory experiments have rarely been used in international relations,especially with a game theoretic model to structure the design and empirical analysis.
Our paper shows how this can be done in a substantively motivated way, with importantresults. Laboratory experiments can quickly and clearly reveal whether certain
relationships hold, and if so under what conditions. This is a critical complement tomuch theoretical and empirical work in international relations. The experiment presented
in this paper was a first step in explaining how and why individuals use verbal
communication to influence each other’s behavior in a repeated entry-deterrence game.
We hope our findings encourage other researchers to theorize more deeply about cheap
talk and to test various hypotheses about its effect on interpersonal and interstate
relations.

32

Figure 2.

.6
.5
.4
.3
.2
.1
0

Probability of Entry

.7

.8

.9

Challenger Behavior With and Without Cheap Talk: Entry Probability

1

2

3

5

4

6

7

8

PeriodNo Communication

Threat Issued

All observations with defender that had not backed down previously

33

Figure 3
Challenger Behavior With and Without Cheap Talk:

.8
.7
.6
.5

Probability of Entry.91

Entry Probability after Defender Has Backed Down

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

PeriodNo Communication

Threat Issued

All observations with defender that had backed down34

Figure 4
Defender Fighting Probability With and Without Cheap Talk and No Previous

.8
.7
.6
.5

Probability of Fight.9

1

Backing Down

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

PeriodNo Communication

Threat Issued

All observations for defender that had not previously backed down

35

Figure 5
Defender Behavior With and Without Cheap Talk: Fighting Probability after

.3
.2
.1
0

Probability of Fight.4.5

Defender has Backed Down

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

PeriodNo Communication

Threat Issued

All observations for defender that had previously backed down

36

APPENDIX
Given the number of entrants, the payoffs in the game, and the distribution of
defender types (in our experiment 1/3rd were strong and 2/3rd were weak types) we canderive a sequential equilibrium as done in Jung et al. (Jung et al. 1994). Figure A graphs
the probabilities of entry and fight where there has been no previous backing down. As
we noted earlier, when a weak defender has previously backed down, the formal model
indicates that challengers should always enter and the defender should always backdown. Permitting cheap talk does not alter the predictions because only there is a strict
incentive for all defenders to signal that they will fight and hence the signals are
uninformative.

Sequential Equilibrium Predictions

.8
.6
.4
.2
0

Probability of Entry or Fight1

8 Entrants, Conditional on No Previous Backdown

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

PeriodWeak Type Second-Mover (Fight)
First-Mover (Enter)37

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40

Experiment Instructions

Instructional Materials for Subjects
During the instruction period we read the following script and provided subjects
with two worksheets. A Powerpoint presentation was also used to supplement the script(provided at end).

Experiment Instructions
Thank you for agreeing to participate in this research experiment on group decision
making. During the experiment we require your complete, undistracted attention. You
may not chat with other students, or engage in other distracting activities, such as using
your phone or headphones, reading books, etc. Please turn all cell phones to silent.
For your participation, you will be paid in cash, at the end of the experiment. Different
participants may earn different amounts. You will be paid privately, and are under noobligation to tell others how much you earned. What you earn depends on your decisions
and the decisions of others. It is very important that you follow the instructions closely.
All participants in this experiment receive the exact same set of the following
instructions.
The entire experiment will take place through computer terminals, and all interaction
between each of you will take place through the computers. It is important that you nottalk or in any way try to communicate with other subjects during the experiments. If you
disobey the rules, you will be asked to leave the experiment.
We will start with a brief instruction period. If you have any questions during this period,
raise your hand and your question will be answered so that everyone can hear. If any
difficulties arise after the experiment has begun, raise your hand, and an experimenter
will come and assist you.
Instructions
Subjects will be split into two groups, a ‘first mover group and a ‘second mover’ group.
Your assignment will be the same for the whole session. Whether you are a first moveror a second mover is determined randomly and shown on your computer screen once theexperiment starts.
The decision situation
The experiment is divided into eight periods. In every experiment round each of thesecond-movers is paired with eight different first-movers. An experiment round ends
when the second mover has been paired with each of these first movers once. No one
will play the same person twice in an experiment round.

The experiment begins with first movers choosing between one of two alternatives. The
decision situation is projected at the front of the room. These alternatives are labeled A1
and A2 respectively. Choosing ‘A1’ produces an amount of points that depends on how
second mover subjects respond. Note that if A2 is chosen, the second mover’s choice
does not affect the outcome. The second mover they are paired with then chooses ‘if A1
was chosen, I will choose B1’ or ‘if A1 was chosen, I will choose B2’ on a similar
screen.

Comment [d1]: Screen 2This process repeats until everyone has been paired with everyone once. Thus, eachsecond mover will encounter a sequence of 8 different first movers in a round. Each firstmover will play each second mover, but each time at a later period in the round.
To illustrate how you will be paired with other subjects and to show you how to read
information provided on your screen, we will take you through an example round of theexperiment. Please follow our directions exactly. Please click on the icon titled zLeaf on
your desktop. On the first screen you are told whether you are a first mover or second
mover. If you are a second mover you are also told whether you are type 1 or type 2.
Will explain the difference in a moment. Please click OK. On the next screen you areable to make a decision. If you are a first mover you are paired with a single second
mover, and vice versa. The left hand side of the screen will report information about thesecond mover in the pairing. This information will be the choice of previous first movers
they are paired with, and the choice of the second mover if A1 is chosen.
This screen does not yet have any information. An example of what a first mover will
see in the first period is projected at the front of the room. Now, we are projecting what asecond mover will see in the first period.

Comment [d2]: Screen 3

Comment [d3]: Screen 4
Comment [d4]: Screen 5

If you are in the first row of seats, choose A1 if you are a first mover and B1 if you are asecond mover. If you are in the second row, choose A2 if you are a first mover and B2 if
you are a second mover. Please remember to hit ok after your decision. If you are thethird row of seats choose A1 if you are a first mover and B1 if you are a second mover.
The next screen you see is slightly different that the previous screen. If you are a firstmover, you are now paired with a different second mover. The information you see on
the left side of the screen is information about what this second mover faced in the first
period. Unlike the decision made in the first period, all subjects have a record of what thesecond mover faced in the previous period. If the first mover they were paired with choseA1, you will see how the second mover responded. If the first mover they were pairedwith chose A2, you will not see the decision of the second mover. If you are a second
mover, you see exactly the same information that the person you are currently paired withsees. This information is your own history: what the first mover you faced in the first
period did, and what your response was if they chose A1.

The screen at the front of the room shows what a first mover might see in the second
period. In this case, they are paired with a second mover whose choice in the first period
did not matter, because the first mover they were paired with chose A2. The next screen

Comment [d5]: Screen 6
Comment [d6]: Screen 7

shows what a second mover might face in the second round. This shows that the firstmover they were paired with chose A2, and thus their choice is not recorded. Are there
any questions?

If you are in the first row, choose A2 if you are a first mover and B2 if you are a second
mover. If you are in the second row, choose A1 if you are a first mover and B1 if you area second mover. If you are in the third row, choose A1 if you are a first mover and B1 if
you are a second mover. Please hit ‘ok’. If you are a first mover, you are now paired witha different second mover. The information you see on the left side of the screen is
information about what this second mover faced in the first period and second period. If
you are a second mover, you see exactly the same information that the person you are
currently paired with sees. This information is your own history: what the first mover you
faced in the first period did, what a different first mover did in the second period, andwhat your responses were if they chose A1. The screen at the front of the room shows
what a first mover might see in the third period. In this case, they are paired with asecond mover whose first period choice was B2 in response to a first mover that chose
A1. In the second period, this same second mover faced a first mover that chose A2, andso the second mover choice was not recorded.
If you are in the first row, choose A1 if you are a first mover and B2 if you are a second
mover. If you are in the second row, choose A2 if you are a first mover and B1 if you area second mover. If you are in the third row, choose A2 if you are a first mover and B2 if
you are a second mover. Please hit ‘ok’. You now see the screen for the fourth period.
The screen projected at the front of the room shows the information a second movermight see. In the first period, their first mover chose A2, and thus their response is notrecorded. In the second period their first mover (a different person) chose A1 and they
responded B1. In the third period their first mover chose A2 and thus the second moverchoice is not recorded. Please take a moment to review the information on the left side ofyour screen. Remember, all of the information reflects what we told everyone to do. In
the experiment, everyone will be able to make his or her own choices.
If you are in the first row, choose A2 if you are a first mover and B1 if you are a second
mover. If you are in the second row, choose A1 if you are a first mover and B2 if you area second mover. If you are in the third row, choose A1 if you are a first mover and B1 if
you are a second mover. Please hit ‘ok’.
This process would continue for eight periods, until all first movers and second movers
have been paired once. At the end of the eighth period you will see the points you earnedin the round.
Instructions for points
You have been provided a diagram that lists how points are earned by subjects. Pleaseturn to the side that says ‘first mover subjects’.

Comment [d7]: Screen 8

Comment [d8]: Screen 9

If you are assigned a first mover role, you should use this side. Please focus yourattention on screen at the front of the room. First movers can choose A1 or A2. If the firstmover chooses A2, the FM gets 95 and the second mover gets 300 pts. If the first moverchooses A1, then the points it earns will depend on what the second mover does. If thesecond mover chooses B1, the first mover earns 150 pts. If the second mover chooses B2,
the first mover earns 80 pts.
Now let’s talk about the second mover. The second mover gets the most points if the firstmover chooses A2 – 300 points. But if the first mover chooses A1, then the second
mover’s points depend on whether the second mover is a type 1 or type 2.
Approximately 2/3rds of second mover’s will be type 1, and approximately 1/3 will betype 2. Type 1 second movers get more points for choosing B1 (160 pts) than choosing
B2 (70 pts). This scenario is listed at the top of the page and is projected on the screen at
the front of the room. Type 2 second movers get more points from choosing B2 (160)
than B1 (70). This scenario is listed at the bottom of the page and is now projected on thescreen at the front of the room.

Comment [d9]: Screen 10

Comment [d10]: Screen 11
Comment [d11]: Screen 12

Are there any questions?

Please turn to the side that says ‘second mover subjects’. If you are a second mover, you
should use this side. The situation is the same as just we just described, but is presented
from the perspective of the second mover. If you are a type 1 second mover and A1 has
been chosen, you receive more points from choosing B1 than B2. If you are a type 2
second mover and A1 has been chosen, you receive more points from choosing B2 thanB1. All second movers earn the most amount of points by the first mover choosing A2.
All first movers earn the most amount of points by choosing A1 and the second moverchoosing B1. The next highest amount of points comes from choosing A2. First movers
receive the least amount of points from choosing A1, and then the second mover choose
B2.
Are there any questions?
The experiment may, or may not, be repeated several times. If the experiment is repeated,
you will keep the same first mover/second mover assignment, and second movers willkeep their same type.
In this experiment, you will be playing for real money. All earnings are expressed interms of points. Points will be converted to dollars at the rate of $2.00 per 1000 points. If
the experiment is repeated, this conversion rate will be adjusted. For example, if theexperiment is repeated twice, you will earn $2.00 per 2000 points. In addition, allsubjects are paid a $10 show-up fee. Your earnings do not depend on the earnings ofother subjects in your sub-group. For example, if you are a first mover, your earnings do
not depend on the earnings of other first movers.

Comment [d12]: Careen 13

At the end of the experiment you will fill out a brief feedback form. When you havecompleted the feedback form please wait. We will notify you when we are ready for you
to exit the room.
We have provided a sheet of paper with the basic information you need to know. On the
opposite side of the paper we have listed several questions with answers. Please take amoment to read through this material.
Are there any questions before we begin the experiment?
We will now begin. If you are assigned a second mover role, please record whether you
are of type 1 or type 2 at the top of your worksheet.

After completing 5 repetitions of the experiment, subjects were then told:
We will now change the experiment slightly. Each time a first mover is paired with asecond mover the second mover will have an opportunity to issue a statement to the firstmover. This statement will be “if you choose A1 then B1 will be chosen” or “if you
choose A2 then B2 will be chosen”. The first mover will see this statement at the top
right hand side of the screen. The first mover will also see the second mover’s history inprevious periods with other first movers, as was the case in the first experiment. As in thefirst experiment, the second mover will be asked to make an actual decision between
choosing B1 if A1 was chosen, or B2 if A2 is chosen. All other features of theexperiment are exactly the same as in the first experiment.
To illustrate what this looks like, please direct your attention to the screen at the front of
the room.

Comment [d13]: Screen 1

This screen allows a second mover to send a message to the first mover they are paired
with, saying that if A1 is chosen they will choose B1 or B2.
The next screen is what a first mover might see in the first period. Here, the second
mover they are paired with has sent a message saying that if A1 is chosen, then B2 will
be chosen. This message is in the top right hand side of the screen. As in the firstexperiment, the history screen on the left hand side is blank because this is the first
period.

Comment [d14]: Screen 2

The screen you now see is what a first mover might see in the third period. Here, the firstmover sees what the second mover they are paired with faced in the previous two periods.
The first mover also sees the message that the second mover has sent them. In this case,the first mover is being told that if A1 is chosen, then B2 will be chosen.

Comment [d15]: Screen 3

To review, second movers will now have an opportunity to send a message to the firstmover they are paired with stating what they will do if A1 is chosen. Second moversmust also choose what they will do if A1 is chosen. The statement and action do not need
to be identical. First movers will see the statement made by the first mover and will selectbetween A1 and A2 as before. First movers do not see a history of statements by thesecond mover they are paired with, only the second mover’s actions and the actions of thefirst mover they were paired with. All other features of the experiment remain the same.
1/3rd of second movers will be type II second movers who prefer choosing B2 to B1 if A1
is chosen.

HANDOUTS GIVEN TO SUBJECTS
Basic Features of the Experiment•
You will be divided into two groups: (1) First Movers and (2) Second Movers•

Second Movers come in two types:
2/3 are type 1 (get more points for choosing B1 than B2)
1/3 are type 2 (get more points for choosing B2 than B1)•

The Experiment will consist of eight periods. We may or may not repeat the experiment.

•

A single period = one Second Mover paired with one First Mover•

An experiment round = one second mover paired with eight different first movers•

Information will be available on the history of decisions within a round: First Movers see the choices previous first movers
made, and what the Second Mover did if A1 was chosen, for the second mover they are currently paired with. Second
movers see their ‘own’ history, which is their own decisions and the decisions made by each first mover they were paired
with.

•

Points: will be determined by the choice you make and the choice your partner makes. Points are converted into cash
Review questions

1) What does it mean when you see a blank information screen?
Answer: You are in the first period and do not have any information about how second movers decided in previous periods.
2) If you are a first mover, does the amount of points you earn depend on the amount of points earned by other first movers?
Answer: No. The points you earn as a first mover only depends on your own choices, and the choice made by second movers you arepaired with in a given period.
3) In the experiment there will be 8 first movers and 8 second movers. Of the 8 second movers, approximately how many of them will
be a type 2 second mover.
Answer: 1/3, or approximately 2 or 3. This assignment of ‘type’ is determined by the computer randomly. On average in thisexperiment, 4 out of the 12 second movers will be a type 2 second mover, who gets more points for choosing B2 than B1.
4) If you are a first mover, what does the information on the left side of the screen mean?
Answer: this information is what the second mover you are currently paired with faced in earlier periods in the current round. It lists
the first mover’s decision, and the second mover’s response if A1 was chosen.
5) If you are a second mover, will the first mover you are paired with in the third period be able to see what you did in the first period?
Answer: Yes. As long as the first mover chose A1 in the first period, all following first movers (7 in a round) you are paired with will
see your choice from the first period.

USE THIS SIDE IF YOU ARE A SECOND MOVER
I am a type ___ second mover
If you are a type 1 second mover:If the first mover chooses A2 you get 300 pts and they get 95 pts
If the first mover chooses A1 and you choose B1 you get 160 pts and they get 150 pts
If the first mover chooses A1 and you choose B2 you get 70 pt and they get 80 pts
Type 1 second movers get more points from B1 than B2 if A1 is chosen
FM
A1

A2

SM

B2

FM: 95
SM: 300

B1

FM: 80
SM: 70

FM: 150
SM: 160

If you are a type 2 second mover:If the first mover chooses A2 you get 300 pts and they get 95 pts
If the first mover chooses A1 and you choose B1 you get 70 pts and they get 150 pts
If the first mover chooses A1 and you choose B2 you get 160 pt and they get 80 pts
Type 2 second movers get more points from B2 than B1 if A1 is chosen
FM
A1

A2

SM

B2

FM: 80
SM: 160

B1

FM: 150
SM: 70

FM: 95
SM: 300

USE THIS SIDE IF YOU ARE A FIRST MOVER
If you face a type 1 second mover (probability = 2/3):
If you choose A2 you get 95 pts and they get 300 pts
If you choose A1 and they choose B1 you get 150 pts and they get 160 pts
If you choose A1 and they choose B2 you get 80 pts and they get 70 pts
Type 1 second movers get more points from B1 than B2 if A1 is chosen
FM
A1

A2

SM

B2

FM: 95
SM: 300

B1

FM: 80
SM: 70

FM: 150
SM: 160

If you face a type 2 second mover (probability=1/3):
If you choose A2 you get 95 pts and they 300 pts
If you choose A1 and they choose B1 you get 150 pts and they get 70 pts
If you choose A1 and they choose B2 you get 80 pts and they get 160 pts
Type 2 second movers get more points from B2 than B1 if A1 is chosen
FM
A1

A2

SM

B2

FM: 80
SM: 160

B1

FM: 150
SM: 70

FM: 95
SM: 300

Supplemental Analyses

Supplementary Equilibrium Analyses for
Does Cheap Talk Matter? An Experimental Analysis
This memo sketches out the equilibrium properties for several models with aone-sided incomplete information entry deterrance stage game. For pedagogical
purposes we consider four variations of the model along whether 1) the game
was a single shot game or was repeated and 2) whether pre-play communication (cheap talk) is possible. Algebraic steps are included. This memo will
be provided on the author’s website alongside supplementary materials for theexperimental sessions.
Figure 1 gives the standard entry deterrence game with entrants that haveincomplete information about whether they face a tough opponent (committed)
with probability P or a weak opponent (uncommitted) with probability 1 P .

1No Signalling

1.1

Single shot play

Consider …rst a single shot version of the game in …gure 1.
Proposition 1 There is a unique equilibrium of the single shot game with priorentrant beliefs that the defender is strong of P = 13 where the entrant enters withprobability one, weak defenders back down, and strong defenders …ght.

1

Proof: In a single shot version of this game the equilibrium depends only
on the prior, p, of facing a strong type. The expected utility of entry is
EU (Enter) = (1 p)150 + 80p = 150 70p. The expected utility of notentering it is 95. The entrant will choose to enter when 150 70p > 95, or when55
. In the game we consider p = 13 and hence entrants always enter andp < 70defender’s …ght if they are strong and don’t …ght if they are weak.

1.2

Repeat PlayConsider now a repeated game with the following features. A single defenderfaces a series of n = 8 entrants. Each entrant is uncertain about the defender’stype, but later defenders can observe the choices of the defender in earlier periods
if the defender faced entry in an earlier period. The sequential equilibrium
solution, as described below, is given by Jung et al. 1994. I reiterate their logic
using their notation.
Proposition 2 A sequential equilibrium exists where weak defenders …ght withprobability 1 in the …rst three periods and then play a strictly declining mixed
strategy in the remaining periods. Entrants do not enter in the …rst three periods
and then enter with probability .357 in the remaining periods. Finally, o¤ -path
beliefs are restricted such that observing backing down leads to a posterior of
P = 0 (Jung et al 1994).
Index periods such that the …rst period is period n, the second period is
n 1, third period n 2,...1. In the …nal period the last entrant will have someposterior belief, P1 , about whether they face a strong defender. They enter if
80P1 + 150(1 P1 ) > 95. I.e., they enter if P1 < 55
70 = Q. In the …nal perioda weak type will not …ght entry because there are no reputational bene…ts. In
period 2, the second to last period, the defender can play a mixed-strategy,
where they …ght with probability T2 . Hence the expected utility to the second
to last entrant for entry is 80P2 + 80(1 P2 )T2 + 150(1 T2 )(1 P2 ). They will
choose entry when 80P2 + 80(1 P2 )T2 + 150(1 T2 )(1 P2 ) > 95.
Now consider how Bayes rule is used to update beliefs in the last period. We
want
P1

=
=
=
=

Pr(StrongjF ight)
Pr(F ightjStrong) Pr(Strong)
Pr(F ight)
Pr(F ightjStrong) Pr(Strong)
Pr(F ightjStrong) Pr(Strong) + Pr(F ightj~Strong) Pr(~Strong)
1P2:
P2 + T2 (1 P2 )2

Now we want to know when P1 is lower than the threshold for entry in the2…nal state. I.e., when does Q < P2 +T2P(1P2 ) ? Solving for T2 :P2
P2 + T2 (1Q(P2 + T2 (1 P2 )) < P2
QP2 + QT2 QT2 P2 < P2
QT2 (1 P2 ) < P2 (1 Q)
P2 (1 Q)
T2 <Q(1 P2 )Q <P2 )In a mixed strategy equilibrium the defender will choose T2 such that this expression is an equality. Substituting this expression in to the above for whether
or not the entrant enters in the second to last period, 80P2 + 80(1 P2 )T2 +
150(1 T2 )(1 P2 ), we obtain the following.
80P2 + 80(1 P2 )T2 + 150(1 T2 )(1 P2 )P2 (1 Q)P2 (1 Q)
80P2 + 80(1 P2 )+ 150(1)(1 P2 )Q(1 P2 )Q(1 P2 )P2 (1 Q)P2 (1 Q) P22 (1 Q)
80P2 + 80+ 150(1 P2+)Q
Q(1 P2 )Q
P2 Q + P2 P2 Q
Q P2
80(
) + 150(
)
Q
Q
80P2
150P2
+ 150
Q
Q
70P2
Q

> 95
> 95
> 95
> 95
> 95
>

P2

<

P2

<

55
55
Q
70
Q2

Similarly, the entry constraint at period n is Pn < Qn .
Now consider the weak defender’s mixed strategy in the nth period. FromP2 (1 Q)P2 (1 Q2 1 )above we had T2 = Q(1P2 ) = Q2 1 (1 P2 ) . Hence our expression for the nth
n

1

n

1

Pn (1 Q))n (1 Q
period is simply Tn = P
Qn 1 (1 Pn ) such that Qn 1 (1 Pn ) < 1 (because will ben1)n (1 Qmixing). Hence Tn = min[1; P
Qn 1 (1 Pn ) ] (because a mixture can’t invovle a
probability over 1).
In the …rst period there is the prior p that the defender is strong. If Pn > Qn
Pn (1 Qn 1 )then the entrant should not enter. In such a case, Q
n 1 (1 P ) > 1 and Tn = 1.
nnThus the weak defender will …ght when Pn > Q . During these early periods if

3

a defender does not …ght then o¤ the equilibrium path beliefs are assumed to bethat they are strong with probability 0. E.g., if no …ghting happens in period
1, Pn 1 = 0, and all subsequent entrants enter with probability 1.
Now consider when Pn Qn , this will generate the mixed-strategy phase ofplay. In the mixed strategy period entrants must be entering with a probability,
On , that makes weak defenders indi¤erent. We begin with the next to laststage, as in the …nal stage defenders never …ght. The defender must be madeindi¤erent between playing some mixture T2 and backing down for sure in both
periods. Assuming entry in the second to last period (and hence the …rst termin the brackets is 70), their expected utility from the mixture is T2 [70 + 160O1 +300(1 O1 )] + [1 T2 ](160 + 160). Their expected utility of backing down inthe second to last period is simply 160 + 160O1 + (1 O1 )160 = 320. Hence wehave the indi¤erence condition:
T2 [70 + 160O1 + 300(1 O1 )] + [1 T2 ](320)70T2 + 160O1 T2 + 300T2 300O1 T2 + 320 320T2
370T2 320T2 + 160O1 T2 300O1 T2 + 320
320 + T2 [(370 320) O1 (300 160)]

=
=
=
=

320
320
320
320

Hence to establish indi¤erence we must have that T2 [(370 320) O1 (300320)160)] = 0, which occurs when O1 = (370(300 160) = :357.
It is important to note that the …nal period play by the entrant is NOT thesame as single shot play (where O1 = 1). This is because the entrant’s posterior
belief in the …nal period is updated to the point their posterior in the last period2is exactly equal to the threshold, P1 = P2 +T2P(1P2 ) = Q, and hence they areindi¤erent between entry and not entry and are playing a mixed strategy.
The entrant will choose their mixture in the second to last period in a similarmanner. They weigh what they would get if they played a mixture in the third
to last period to what they would get if they started backing down. With some320)
algebra we see that O2 = (370(300 160) = :357. By this logic, in equilibrium andduring the mixed strategy phase, the entrant enters with a constant probability.
Finally, if there has been no backing down by the defender, play is in themixed strategy phase, and the previous entrant did not enter, then the defender
does not have the opportunity to build their reputation by resisting entry. Hence
we have Pn = Qn < Qn 1 . This constraint will always hold and thus there will
be entry in period n 1. The empirical analysis in the paper ignores this partof the equilibrium, but additional analyses suggested that had little bearing on
our results.
A key assumption in this sequential equilibrium is that if an entrant everobserves that their opponent has backed down, then their belief that the defender is strong is restricted to be 0. This of course should never happen in thepure strategy phase, and hence the reputational dyanamic implicit in the modelturns on the existence of a "crazy" type.
4

.6
.4
.2
0

Probability of Entry or Fight.818 Entrants

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

PeriodWeak T ype Second-Mover (Fight)
First-Mover (Enter)

Figure 2: Sequential Equilibrium Predictions With Repeated Play

2

Signalling

In this section we modify the game to include an opportunity for the defender
to issue a signal prior to strategy choices. All other features remain the same.

2.1

Single Shot Play

Prior to the entrant moving (but after "Nature" assigns type) the Defenderchooses to send a signal Fight= F or Not Fight= N F . Hence the signal spaceis= ( F ; N F ). Then Entrant chooses E or ~E and Defender chooses F or
~F if then Entrant chose E. The defender’s type is unknown to the entrants,
but they have a common prior P = 13 that the defender is the tough type and1 P that they are the weak type. Now consider a single shot of the game butwith signalling. We investigate three classes of equilibria, separating, pooling,and semi-separating. Of course, babbling equilibria always exist (where poolingis one type of babbling equilibrium (see discussion in pooling section).
Separating
Proposition 3 No separating equilibrium exists.

5

Proof: Assume a separating equilibrium exists. In a separating equilibrium
weak types signal N F and strong types signal F . Entrants choose E if theysee N F and ~E if they see F . Now consider whether a defender can makea pro…table deviation. Given that entrants will choose E if they hear N F , a
pro…table deviation for a weak defender is to pool with the strong defenders andsay F (i.e., 300>160).
No separating equilibria exist where defenders signal by type. The case where
defenders separate but signal their opposite type is clearly not an equilibrium.
Pooling
Proposition 4 A pooling equilibrium exists where all defenders send F , entrants enter if they hear F and have o¤ -path beliefs such that P ( N F ) = 0
and thus enter if they hear N F , weak defenders backdown and strong defenders…ght.
Proof: In a pooling equilibrium no defender will have a strictly positive
incentive to send the opposite signal. Consider that all defenders say F . Now
the signal has no information content and entrants will play based on their prior,which has not been updated by tht signal. In this case, they will always enter.
Now consider whether, given certain entry, a weak type will prefer to signal
N F . If N F is signaled they face certain entry and will choose to not …ght,
giving them 160. If there is pooling then the entrant does what they would
do sans signal (enter), because the signal is uninformative.But then the weak
defender also gets a payo¤ of 160 after signalling F , and hence are indi¤erent
between F ; N F . Hence weak types do not have a positive incentive to change
their signal. Strong types do not have an incentive deviate and send N F either,as this will lead to entry (given the o¤ path beliefs) and 300 > 160. A similar
logic applies to the indi¤erence of a strong type from signalling F or N F . It
can also be shown that there does not exist pooling where both defenders signal
N F because strong defenders will want to separate.
Note that the restriction on o¤ path beliefs is what moves the analysis awayfrom babbling where the defender places positive probability on all messages.
This seems reasonable given the nature of the messages, where subjects could
clearly map a relationship between the message, and an action to be played(given that the message said something about an action to be played), and thecorresponding type that would play such an action.1
Semi-separating
Proposition 5 A semi-separating equilibrium does not exist.
1 For a discussion of cheap talk re…nements relevant here, see Joseph Farrell, 1993, Meaning
and Credibility in Cheap-Talk Games, Games and Economic Behavior, 5, 514-531

6

Proof: Assume a semi-separating equilibrium exists. Under a semi-separating
equilibrium the weak defender must be indi¤erent between signalling F and
N F , which will arise because the entrant is mixing with probability q < 1 after observing F . Now ask whether weak defenders can be made indi¤erent
between signalling F or N F . As long as entrants do not enter with someprobability, strong types will always send F . In this equilibrium entrants will
be mixing and entering with probability q if they hear F and choosing E
for sure if they hear N F . Consider the strong type’s EU from sending F ,EU ( F ) = 300(1 q) + 160q = 300 140q. Now consider their utility for sending N F , EU ( N F ) = 160. For any q < 1 the strong type will strictly prefer tosend the …ght signal. Can entrants enter with some probability q after hearing
F such that they make weak defenders indi¤erent between F or N F ? I.e.,
consider that the entrant selects E with probability q after observing F , and select E with probability 1 after observing the no …ght signal. Hence the expectedutility of a weak type signalling F is (1 q)300 + 160q = 300 140q. Theirutility from signalling not …ght is 160, because they will face entry for sure.
Can they be made indi¤erent? They can only be made indi¤erent if q = 1. But
then the entrant is no longer mixing and hence a semi-separating equilibrium
does not exist. Is it possible to slightly modify the payo¤s in order to have asemi-separating equilibrium?
Proposition 6 There exists alternative payo¤ parameters for the game suchthat a a semi-separating equilibrium exists.
Proof: Let x be the weak defender’s payo¤ to not …ghting after entry. Thenthey are indi¤erent between signalling F and facing entry with probability q
and signalling N F and facing entry for sure if:(1 q)300 + qx
300 300q + qx
140 q(300 x)
140
140
300 x

= 160
= 160
= 0
= q(300x)= q

q = 1 when x = 160. q must be between 0 and 1. By de…nition of being
a weak defender, x cannot be less than 70, and hence the range of values of xsuch that there could be a semi-separating equilibrium is (70; 160).
Now imagine that x = 100. Then q = 300140100 = :7. Is there a semiseparating equilibrium? If q < 1 then strong types strictly prefer to send F .
Weak types still play ~F after signalling either F , N F .

7

Now consider that the weak types signal …ght with probability z. What are
the entrants beliefs?

Pr(W eakj F )

=
=
=
=

Pr( F jW eak) Pr(W eak)Pr( F jW eak) Pr(W eak) + Pr( F j~W eak) Pr(~W eak)Pr( F jW eak)(1 p)
Pr( F jW eak)(1 p) + Pr( F j~W eak)pz pz
z pz + p23z=k2z 3 z + 13

Hence in such an equilibrium the entrant’s expected utility for entry followingk)80 = 70k + 80. Their utility for not entering is 95 and hence
are indi¤erent when
F is 150k + (170k + 80

=

k

=

95
15
70

For what probability, z, of the weak types signalling

z

2
3z
2
1
3z + 3

=

2z
z+1

=

z

=

F ; could this hold?

15
70
15
70
3
25

Hence under this alternative paramterization of the game there exists a semiseparating equilibrium where strong types always signal F and play F if entered3
upon, weak types signal F with probability z = 25
and choose ~F if entered
upon, and entrants enter with probability 1 if observing N F and enter withprobability q = :7 after observing F .

2.2

Repeated Play

What will happen in the repeated play version of the entry-deterrance game butwhere the defender can signal to each entrant they face? We use the notationfrom the …rst section, with the introduction of the message space = ( F ; N F ).
Only signals in the present period are seen–signals of the defender to earlier
entrants are not seen. Hence we do not index signals by period. Again we index8periods by labeling the last period 1, the second to last period 2, etc. The
repeated play case with signalling is obviously more challenging.
As in the repeated play model with no signalling, if an entrant sees that thedefender has previously not fought then their belief that they face a strong typeis updated to 0 and they will enter for sure.
As before there will exist an entry constraint in terms of the entrant’s beliefs,
P , similar to Pn < Qn . However, unlike before Pn may be in‡uenced by boththe history of the game but also the signal in the current period. Thus we havePn ( ) < W , where W does not necessarily equal Qn .
Pooling equilibrium
Proposition 7 There exists a pooling equilibrium where weak and strong defenders signal F and all players play choose actions according to the sequential
equilibrium of the repeated game without signalling.
We must specify o¤ path beliefs within any period. Here Pn ( N F ) = 0 isa reasonable assumption. Note, however, that these beliefs do not need to betransmitted as only action histories are recorded (Pn ( N F ) 6= Pn 1 unless thedefender backs down in period n).
Proof: Note that signals in the …nal period will be uninformative and fromthe repeat play section without signalling we have posterior beliefs in the …nal
2
period of P1 ( F ) = P1 = P2 +T2P(1P2 ) (T2 is the mixed strategy played by the
defender in the second to last period). We will have the same …nal period con55). In equilibrium the entrant still
straint on entry (enter if P1 ( F ) < Q = 70
chooses E with probability O1 = :357 (this is pinned down in the sequential
equilibrium in order to make the defender in the second to last period indi¤erent), and weak defenders back down if entered upon.
Now ask whether a weak type in the last period would prefer to deviate to
N F . If they signal N F the o¤ path beliefs are such that they face guaranteedentry, O1 = 1. Their expected utility in the pooling equilibrium is 300(1 O1 )+160O1 . This is greater 160 (what they would get if they faced entry for suregiven the o¤ path beliefs speci…ed in equilibrium) for any value of O1 less than
1. In equilibrium O1 = :357 < 1. In the last period they still prefer to pool andsignal F .

Consider now a deviation that has defender separate in the second to lastperiod and pooling in the …nal period. Will the weak defender want to deviate
and signal N F in the second to last period? Assume they deviate and signal
N F in the second to last period (but continue to pool in the last period).
They face entry for sure in the second period. But if they end up …ghting
their reputation is sustained and they can still expect to face the mixture O1
in the …nal period. Hence this deviation still leads them to the expected utility
calculation of T2 (70+160O1 +300(1 O1 ))+(1 T2 )(160+160). This is exactly
what they can expect to get if pooling and hence there is no positive incentive9

to deviate. If, alternatively, they decide to not …ght in the second to last period
they are clearly worse o¤ than remaining in the pooling equilibrium, as in thiscase they lose their reputation and now face certain entry in the next period.
Checking for pro…table deviations in previous periods yields similar results.
Separating equilibrium
Proposition 8 There does not exist a separating equilibrium where defenders
pool until the last period and then signals by type.
Proof: Assume a separating equilibrium exists in the …nal period where
defenders signal by type, weak defenders back down if entered upon and strong
types …ght, entrants choose ~E if they hear F (with beliefs P1 ( F ) = 1) and E ifthey hear N F (with beliefs P1 ( N F ) = 0). I.e., we would have Pr(Strongj F ) =1; Pr(F ightj F ) = 1; Pr(F ightjStrong \ F ) = 1, and Pr(Strongj N F ) = 0.
Hence P1 ( F ) = 1. In this case there are no o¤ path beliefs to specify because
there are no probability 0 signals.
Now consider whether the weak type would prefer to signal F . If P1 ( F ) = 1
then the entry constraint cannot be satis…ed nor is it incentive compatible for thestrong defender to play a mixed strategy to try and make the entrant indi¤erent.
The entrant will not enter after hearing F . Hence the weak defender would
strictly prefer to send F because 300 (payo¤ to defender from no entry) is
greater than 160, which is what they would get if they faced entry. Hence there
is no separating equilibrium in the …nal period.
Proposition 9 There exists no separating equilibrium that begins with separation in the second period.
There are two possibilities depending on whether separation also occurs in
the …nal period. 1) Separation in the second to last period and the last periodor 2) separation in the second to last period but pooling in the last period (recall
signals are not transmitted to the next entrant).
1) Assume an equilibrium exists with separation by type in the last two
periods. Here the entrant in the second to last period chooses E if N F (theyhave beliefs P2 ( N F = 0) and ~E if F (they have beliefs P2 ( F = 1)). A
defender who sends N F in the second to last period will face entry for sure.
In this equilibrium after sending N F the weak defender gets either 160 or
70 (depending on whether they choose to …ght). In the …nal period of thisequilibrium they also choose to send N F , face certain entry, and do not …ght
(there is no value of the reputation). This gives them 160.
Consider now a deviation where the weak type sends F in the second tolast period. Then they will get 300 plus some amount from the …nal period(P2 ( F ) = 1 and so the entrant does not enter). However, no matter what
outcome happens in the …nal period the sum of their utility from signalling F
10

in the second period will always be greater than the most they could get bysignalling by type beginning in the second to last period: 160 + 160 = 320.
Hence there will be no seperation by type beginning in the second to last period
and continued in the last period. A similar logic shows that there will be nosustained separation starting in any period.
2) Now consider an equilibrium with separation in the second to last period
but pooling in the last period. The appropriate deviation to check is the single
shot deviation to pooling in the second period, but maintaining the poolingin the …nal period. As described above the weak defender has no incentive todeviate and play the separating strategy in the …nal period, but we still need use
a single shot deviation to check the posited equilibrium. In the second to lastperiod of this potential separating equilibrium the weak defender will face entry
for sure P2 ( N F ) = 0 and will get either 70 or 160, depending on whether they…ght. With P2 ( N F ) = 0 the entrant enters with probability O2 = 1. Then thepayo¤ to the entrant is T2 ([70]+[160O1 +300(1 O1 )])+(1 T2 )([160]+[160]) =T2 [(370 320) O1 (300 160)], where T2 is the mixture played by the weak
defender in the second to last period after signalling N F , the terms inside the[] are the period 2 and period 1 payo¤s following the realization of T2 , and O1
is the mixture played in the last period played by the entrant.
Now consider the deviation where they pool in the second to last period.
In this case P2 ( F ) = 1, the entry threshold for beliefs does not hold and theentrant does not enter. The defender gets a payo¤ of 300 and then faces the next
entrant, yielding an expexted utility of 300 + 160O1 + 300(1 O1 ) = 600
140O1 . Here O1 is the potentially mixed strategy played by the …nal entrant
following no entry by the previous entrant.2 Under the posited equilibrium theywould get T2 [(370 320) O1 (300 160)]. The deviation is pro…table if:
600
600

140O1
140O1

>
>

T2 ((370 320) O1 (300
T2 (50 140O1 )160))

For all values of O1 and O1 this inequality will hold and hence there exists
a pro…table deviation from the posited equilibrium to pool in the second to lastperiod. Furthermore, the maximum size of the RHS is when O1 = 0 and T2 = 1,
i.e., a value of 50. Alternatively, the deviation yields 460 when O1 = 1.
The next step would be to repeat the process and show that there would
be no separation in the third period. The opportunity to avoid sure entry ispreferable to the defender, but it seem clear that this is unlikely to occur giventhat within period signals of N F lead to updated beliefs of Pn ( N F ) = 0.
Semi-separating equilibrium
A …nal type of equilibrium to check is whether semi-separation occurs.
2 The section on repeated play without communication shows that in this case the entrant

enters for sure because their belief threshold is exceeded. I abstract from this so as to illustrate
the logic but it clearly does not matter.

11

Proposition 10 There is no equilibrium where pooling is played until the …nal
period and then semi-separation occurs. Assume that P1 ( N F ) = 0 since strong
types will never signal N F .
Proof: Assume there is a semi-separating equilibrium in the last period.
In this period the entrant must play a mixed strategy, O1 , that satis…es theindi¤erence condition for the weak defender in the second to last period, T2 [70+160O1 + 300(1 O1 )] + [1 T2 ](320) = 320; but also makes weak defendersindi¤erent between signalling F or N F . Let the weak defender signal Fwith probability z1 . To solve for this mixture we need to …nd the value ofO1 that makes the defender indi¤erent about whether or not to signal …ght.
Furthermore, this value of O1 must also make the defender in the second to lastperiod indi¤erent between …ghting or not in order to sustain the mixed strategy
equilibrium in actions. Finally, the the in‡uence of z1 and T2 on the entrants
beliefs must also make the entrant want to mix (and hence be indi¤erent between
entering or not) after observing F :The expression for O1 will contain T2 and the expression for T2 will contain
P1 ( F ). Assume that up through the second to last period the reputation has
been maintained, and hence the posterior following this period is P2 (whichforms prior for period 1). Given this posterior, the entrant in the last period
observes a signal and can further update their beliefs about the type of defenderthey face.
Consider …rst the entrant’s beliefs in the …nal period (though the contradiction will be obtained from showing the defender cannot be made indi¤erent).
In order to check for beliefs under which the entrant can be made indifferent about entry in the …nal period, we need their beliefs, P1 , which is theirposterior from observing the previous history of play and, with communication,
the signal from the defender. Given the restriction on beliefs that if backing
down occurs this prior is updated to 0, the entrant’s belief in the …nal period is Pr(Strongj ; F2 ). Consider the beliefs following signalling F (in semiseparation strong types never signal N F and hence Pr(Strongj N F ; F2 ) = 0).
By Bayes Rule:12

Pr(Strongj F \ F2 )

=
=
=
=
=
=

Pr( F \ F2 jStrong) Pr(Strong)Pr( F \ F2 )Pr( F \ F2 jStrong) Pr(Strong)Pr( F \ F2 jStrong) Pr(Strong) + Pr( F \ F2 j~Strong) Pr(~Strong)
1P2
1P2 + Pr( F \ F2 j~Strong)(1 P2 )P2
P2 + Pr( F j~Strong) Pr(F2 j~Strong)(1 P2 )P2
P2 + T2 z1 (1 P2 )P2
P2 + T2 z1 P2 T2 z1

The entrant’s expected utility calculation for choosing E following signal F
is 150(1 P1 ( F )) + 80(P1 ( F )) = 150 70P1 ( F ). Hence they are indi¤erent
55= P2 +T2 zP1 2 P2 T2 z1 .
only if 150 70P1 ( F ) = 95, or P1 ( F ) = 70
Solving for z1 we have:
55
70

=

P2
P2 + T2 z1 P2 T2 z1

55(P2 + T2 z1 P2 T2 z1 ) = P2
70
55
55
T 2 z1P2 T2 z1 = P2
70
70
55
55
P2 T2 ) = P2
z1 ( T 2
70
70
z1

=

55
P2
70
55
P2
70
55
P2 70
P2
55
55
T
P
70 2
70 2 T2

Notice how the exact mixture played by the defender depends on the entrant’s prior belief (from the second period) and the mixture T2 played by the
defender in the previous period. In the model without communication, we simply solved for T2 in order to establish the indi¤erence condition. Here, thiswould be:55
70
55
T 2 z1
70

55
P2 T2 z1
70
T2

P2
P2 + T2 z1 P2 T2 z1
55
= P2
P2
70
55
P2 70 P2
= 55
55
70 z1
70 P2 z1=

13

The entrant wants to choose a mixture O1 to make the defender in thesecond to last period indi¤erent between …ghting in the second to last period
AND indi¤erent between signalling F or N F . Both know that the weak typewill play a mixture z1 in the …nal period if …ght is chosen in the second to lastperiod. Consider the …rst indi¤erence condition:
T2 (70 + (1 z1 )160 + 300z1 (1 O1 )) + (1 T2 )(160 + 160)
T2 (70 + 160 160z1 + 300z1 300z1 O1 ) + 320 320T2
140z1 T2 90T2 300z1 O1 T2 + 320
140z1 T2 90T2 300z1 O1 T2
300z1 O1 T2
O1
O1

=
=
=
=
=

320
320
320
0
140z1 T2 + 90T2
140z1 T2 + 90T2=
300z1 T2
140z1 90
=
300z1

90
Notice that z1 must be greater that 140, otherwise the expression is negative.
Finally, it must also be the case that the weak defender is indi¤erent between
signalling F or N F in the …nal period, given some mixture by the entrant O1 .
The expected utlity of sending …ght is 160O1 + 300(1 O1 ) = 300 140O1 . The
expected utility of sending N F is 160 because the entrant will enter for sure.

300

140O1 = 160

Hence this indi¤erence condition can only be satis…ed if O1 = 1. But in sucha case the entrant is no longer indi¤erent between entry. Furthermore, this pins
down the previous indi¤erence condition to be
O1

=

1

=

160z1

=

z1

=

140z1 90300z1
140z1 90
300z1
90
90
160

Which cannot happen. There is no semi-separating equilibrium that begins
in the …nal period of the game.

Proposition 11 There is no equilibrium where pooling is played until the second to last period, in period 2 semi-separation occurs, and in the …nal period
weak defenders pool. Again assume that P2 ( N F ) = 0 since strong types will
never signal N F .
14

Proof. Assume an equilibrium exists with semi-separation in the second tolast period and pooling in the …nal period. For such an equilibrium to exist there
must be a O2 such that the weak defender is indi¤erent between signalling N F
or F . Within the second period a signal of N F will lead to sure entry whereas
F will be followed by some mixture O2 . O2 enters into the defender’s utility
function in the third period. Hence we have the expected utility of sending F .
T3 (70 + T2 (70O2 + 300(1 O2 ) + 160O1 + 300(1 O1 )) + (1+(1 T3 )(160 + 160 + 160)
= 50T3 140O2 T3 + 140T3 T2 90O2 T3 T2 140T3 O1 T2 + 480
Similarly, if the signal in the second period is
T3 (70 + T2 (70 + 160O1 + 300(1 O1 )) + (1
= 50T3 T2 90T3 140O1 T3 T2 + 480

NF

T2 )(160O2 + 300(1O2 ) + 160))

then we haveT2 )(160 + 160)) + (1T3 )(480)

Hence indi¤erence implies:
50T3

140O2 T3 + 140T3 T2 90O2 T3 T2 140T3 O1 T2 + 480
50T3 140O2 T3 + 90T3 T2 90O2 T3 T2
140 140O2 + 90T2 90O2 T2
140 + 90T2 140O2 90O2 T2
140 + 90T2

= 50T3 T2 90T3 140O1 T3 T2 + 480
=
90T3
= 0
= 0
= 140O2 + 90O2 T2

But the only way this can happen is if O2 = 1. But then the defender
can’t be mixing their signal in a way that makes the entrant indi¤erent, andthe entrant can’t be mixing their strategy to make the defender in the previous
period indi¤erent. Semi-separation does not happen in the second period.
A similar logic applies to previous periods.

15