Econometrica

Journal Of The Econometric Society

An International Society for the Advancement of Economic
Theory in its Relation to Statistics and Mathematics

Edited by: Guido W. Imbens • Print ISSN: 0012-9682 • Online ISSN: 1468-0262

Econometrica: Jul, 1982, Volume 50, Issue 4

Sequential Equilibria

https://doi.org/0012-9682(198207)50:4<863:SE>2.0.CO;2-4
p. 863-894

David M. Kreps, Robert Wilson

We propose a new criterion for equilibria of extensive games, in the spirit of Selten's perfectness criteria. This criterion requires that players' strategies be sequentially rational: Every decision must be part of an optimal strategy for the remainder of the game. This entails specification of players' beliefs concerning how the game has evolved for each information set, including informaiton sets off the equilibrium path. The properties of sequential equilibria are developed; in particular, we study the topological structure of the set of sequential equilibria. The connections with Selten's trembling-hand perfect equilibria are given.


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