In several computer science courses at Johns Hopkins University, the grading curve was set by giving the highest score on the final an A, and then adjusting all lower scores accordingly. The students determined that if they collectively boycotted, then the highest score would be a zero, and so everyone would get an A. Amazingly, the students pulled it off:
Her analysis of the problem would be the starting point for a nice introductory example in a game theory class (although it appears what she is saying is that taking the test is weakly dominant, but I doubt that is true if there is a positive opportunity cost of time.)
Kava tembel tumble: Arthur Robson
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February 15, 2013 at 12:06 am
econ101
She is missing the fact that students were waiting outside the room. That changes the game. It’s really a repeated game with actions “enter and take the test” or “don’t enter and wait outside” and the equilibrium we observe is in trigger strategies: So long as nobody entered the room, every player is not entering either. But once one student enters, everyone will enter also.
February 15, 2013 at 2:01 am
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February 15, 2013 at 8:00 am
James Oswald
Unless it were a class in game theory, I think I would have failed the lot of them.
February 15, 2013 at 8:41 am
Jared
Yeah, I think the positive opportunity cost is irrelevant because as econ101 says, in either outcome they have to remain at the testing room for the entirety of the test to make sure no one goes in.
March 7, 2013 at 4:14 am
Heidie
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February 23, 2013 at 2:55 pm
Anonymous
Jared, what do you mean with “positive opportunity cost is irrelevant”. It’s not, it is just not. Staying outside while everyone stays outside gives an A. Going in introduces the risk of not beeing the best and get a worse grade.
So the positive opportunity cost remains the same, if I’m not mistaken. Sorry for spelling errors or misunderstandings on my side, English is not my mother language.
March 9, 2013 at 7:51 pm
Bruno Salcedo
This sees to me like a good example of Kandori and Kamada’s revision games.
Click to access kamada2-12-08-29.pdf
March 25, 2013 at 4:00 am
Celine Sale
i really like my own Celine Sale his / her very good