Minimax Regret and Strategic Uncertainty

Abstract

This paper introduces a new solution concept, a minimax regret equilibrium, which allows for the possibility that players are uncertain about the rationality and conjectures of their opponents. We provide several applications of our concept. In particular, we consider price-setting environments and show that optimal pricing policy follows a non-degenerate distribution. The induced price dispersion is consistent with experimental and empirical observations (Baye and Morgan (2004)).

Keywords: Minimax regret, rationality, conjectures, price dispersion, auction

JEL Classification: C7