Sustainable institutionalized punishment requires elimination of second-order free-riders

Physics – Physics and Society

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

7 two-column pages, 3 figures; accepted for publication in Scientific Reports

Scientific paper

10.1038/srep00344

Although empirical and theoretical studies affirm that punishment can elevate collaborative efforts, its emergence and stability remain elusive. By peer-punishment the sanctioning is something an individual elects to do depending on the strategies in its neighborhood. The consequences of unsustainable efforts are therefore local. By pool-punishment, on the other hand, where resources for sanctioning are committed in advance and at large, the notion of sustainability has greater significance. In a population with free-riders, punishers must be strong in numbers to keep the "punishment pool" from emptying. Failure to do so renders the concept of institutionalized sanctioning futile. We show that pool-punishment in structured populations is sustainable, but only if second-order free-riders are sanctioned as well, and to a such degree that they cannot prevail. A discontinuous phase transition leads to an outbreak of sustainability when punishers subvert second-order free-riders in the competition against defectors.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Sustainable institutionalized punishment requires elimination of second-order free-riders does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Sustainable institutionalized punishment requires elimination of second-order free-riders, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sustainable institutionalized punishment requires elimination of second-order free-riders will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-290741

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.